What Do 1,200 Pennsylvanians Think About Local Produce?
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Fanning Staff
HERSHEY (Dauphin Co.)
According to a recent survey, the
facts are clean many people know
about the importance of buying
fresh-grown, local fruits and veg
etables to sustaining Pennsylvani
a’s agricultural economy.
But while many agreed that a
“system should be put in place to
ensure the availability of locally
grown produce, less than a third
recognized the “Pennsylvania
Proven Produce” logo and only
about a quarter of those inter
viewed even recognized the logo
published by the Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture.
That’s the message taken home
by more than 35 who signed up for
the special marketing short course
at the 1995 Pennsylvania Veget
able Conference on Thursday at
the Hershey Lodge and Conven
tion Center.
Dr. Joan Thomson, associate
professor in Penn Slate’s Depart
ment of Ag and Extension Educa
tion, provided the results of a
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EQUIPMENT CO.
RD S Pmryn Rd.
Manhalm, PA
717-664-2207
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Box 3M
Columbiana, OH 444 M
216-427-2147
survey which recently interviewed
1,200 Pennsylvanian’s at 23 super
markets and farmers’ markets in
the southeastern Pennsylvania reg
ion. Counties under the survey
included Lancaster, Dauphin,
Chester, Lebanon, Lehigh, Bucks,
Delaware, Montgomery, and
Northampton.
Surveys were conducted at dif
ferent hours, including day and
night. The survey was conducted
with the help of Penn State and
Rodale Institute.
Not surprisingly, the survey
mirrored typical findings, accord
ing to Thomson: the “average”
buyer is a female (70 percent of
those interviewed). White, about
25-40 years of age, with some col
lege education.
Many of the respondents were
“willing to give you the informa
tion if you wanted to find out
something,” said Thomson.
According to the researcher,
what was evident was the consis
tency of the response: most consid
ered product freshness, appear
ance, price, quality, flavor, ripe-
MILLER EQUIPMENT CO.
RD 1
Bachtalavilla, PA
215-845-2911
HOUGHTALING'S GARAGE
RD 2 Box 239
Middlabury Cantor, PA
717-876-3381
ness, and other factors very
important
Sixty percent of those respond
ing prefer to shop at supermarkets
because of time and convenience
of location. Although more men
shopped at the roadside or farmers’
markets than supermarkets (40
percent were male at the farmers’
markets), shoppers preferred the
farmers’ markets because they
believed there was more personal
attention and believed they were
were eating a fresher product
Other questions were asked of
the respondents. One “signific
ant” response, according to
Thomson: people enjoyed living
next to farms and ‘ ‘don’t want any
more development.
“They believe that T have my
plot I don’t want anybody to come
out to surround me,”’ she said.
Many respondents didn’t realize
that about 92 percent of the fresh
fruits and vegetables sold on groc
ery shelves in Pennsylvania comes
from out of state.
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(AGCOI
SHUEY’S SALES SERVICE
Ono, PA
717-865-4915
STANLEYS FARM SERVICE
RD 1 - Off Rte. 126
Kllngaratown, PA
717-648-2086
FRANK RYMON & SONS
State RL 31 South
Washington, N.J.
906-889-1484
Out of 1,214 respondents, about
10 percent of those responding felt
a “strong” opinion that they pre
fer locally grown produce. About
25 percent felt a “moderate” pre
ference for locally grown produce.
More than half, 51.8 percent,
believed that it didn’t matter how
the produce was grown. That
included whether pesticides were
used or not.
One of the most disturbing find
ings was that less than three out of
10 of the respondents recognized
the “Pennsylvania Proven Pro
duce” logo that is available to
growers. And only about a quarter
Lebanon County
Sets Dairy Day
LEBANON (Lebanon Co.)
Since the 1994 Dairy Day was can
celed because of a snowstorm,
Lebanon County Extension hopes
the 1995 meeting will be an
uneventful day for weather. A
stimulating agenda has been
planned for participants.
The Lebanon County Dairy
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 4, IMS-A3l
of those responding recognized the
state depaitment of agriculture
logo, “Pennsylvania Pride.”
What this points to is the impor
tance of growers working together
to promote products, according to
Thomson. “You need to be part of
a collective,” she said.
For more information about the
survey, contact Thomson at Penn
State, Department of Ag and
Extension Education, 323 Ag
Administration Building, Univer
sity Park. PA 16802-2601, (814)
863-3824.
Day is scheduled for Wednesday,
March 1, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the
Prescott Fire Hall on Prescott
Road, 1/2 mile south of Route 422.
Contact the Extension Office,
2120 Cornwall Road, Suite I,
Lebanon, PA 17042 prior to
Wednesday, Feb. 22, for exhibitor
information. Exhibitor fee is $4O.