Consumers Concerned About Farmers, Study Shows

August 25, 1999

Consumers are concerned about the current farm financial problems and about the changing structure of the food and agricultural industries. They also believe their needs are best served by "a family farm system" of agriculture, a new study shows.

The non-profit organization Communicating for Agriculture released the results of the independent survey of consumers on their views about the farm crisis. The poll was conducted by Strategic Research Group, Eden Prairie, MN, from Aug. 3-10. Respondents were selected randomly from household lists.

Wayne Nelson, national president of CA, said, "The perception that consumers only think their food comes from the grocery store and don't care about where, how and who produces their food is dead wrong. Consumers are very concerned about food cost, food safety and food production. They are concerned about concentration in the food and farm industries, and a strong majority clearly prefers a family farm-based system of agriculture."

Seventy-eight percent of respondents said they personally have found that grocery prices have increased in the last year despite farm prices than have declined for most crops and commodities.

When asked about growing concentration in agricultural production, 59% said they believe family farmers are more likely to keep food costs down compared to large agricultural corporations or multinational corporations.

Nearly 83% believe family farmers would do a better job of protecting the land and environment; 78% believe family farmers are more likely to be concerned about food safety compared to large agricultural or multinational corporations.