No one has a clear answer for what consumers define as locally grown produce. That’s why the PIE Center, in partnership with the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation and the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department, explored this concept with a PIE Center Specialty Crop Block Grant.
The rising cost of transportation, coupled with consumers’ preferences for local, healthy foods have created a need to explore and develop localized markets and messages. In order to do this, researchers had to understand consumers’ current food purchasing behaviors and preferences, as well as their opinions of local food.
The results from this ambitious and comprehensive research will be unveiled on March 18. Click here for more information.