by SUSAN MANN
There’s a disconnection between consumers’ stated preference for local foods and their willingness to pay more for them, according to a recent Farm Credit Canada-sponsored survey.
Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Bette Jean Crews says those results aren’t surprising.
Released today, the survey found that despite 95 per cent of respondents agreeing that buying locally–grown food is a priority or a preference only 43 per cent are willing to pay more for local products.
But having a personal connection with a farmer or someone in the agricultural industry seems to make a difference. Survey respondents knowing someone who owns or works on a farm or agribusiness or who have visited a farm were more likely to consider buying locally-grown or Canadian products a priority and they are also willing to pay more for them.
Crews says that’s very believable because that’s human nature. “We’re trying to address that through the National Food Strategy, with part of that being an education component to government and the consumer as to what it means to buy local and how to identify it.”
The Farm Credit survey also found that Ontario consumers were more likely to state that buying locally grown and Canadian products is a priority and are willing to pay more for them compared to consumers in other provinces.
In a press release, Farm Credit Canada president and CEO Greg Stewart says “it would benefit the industry and our customers if the public knew more about the business of agriculture and recognize that agriculture is big, dynamic and complex.”
The online survey was done March 8-10 from a sample of 2,015 Canadians who are Angus Reid Forum panel members, it says in Farm Credit’s press release. BF
Comments
The price it must take to transport the produce here must cost something.In the end wouldn,t it equal our to around the same price. In canada it seems people like to have cheap food and it make no different if the farmers make anything for what they produce. The end results is every body who touches that food makes more than the family farmer,don,t matter which country their from.
I often travel to farmer's markets across Ontario and am often frustrated to see that I can go to some busy markets not far outside of Toronto and pay half the amount that I woudl at some of the markets in the city. While I realize the farmer does need to make a profit, they're hurting themselves by overcharging us city suckers in Toronto. It is sad that I can go to St. Lawrence Market and pay $5+ for a small pint of Ontario berries or go to Loblaws and get that very same pint for two dollars less. I want to support my farmers but they're not making it easy for me to do so!
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