People buy local
food because it’s fresh, they want to support the local economy and farmers and
because it tastes better.
That’s what
pollsters working for the Bank of Montreal found when they questioned 1,000
Canadians in mid-June.
Freshness was the
reason 97 per cent cited for buying local; the same 97 per cent want to support
the local economy and 96 per cent want to support local farmers.
A surprising 76 per
cent buy organic products and the same percentage buy local food because they
think it’s cheaper.
Eighty-eight per
cent believe buying local food is better for the environment.
It all goes to show that people have a lot of unsubstantiated beliefs.
The survey found
some regional differences.
Albertans buy beef,
Ontarions wine, British Columbians fruit, Atlantic Canadians fish and Quebecois
cheeses.
The Bank of
Montreal has been conducting this survey for the last three years and has found
that Canadians like to support local farmers and contribute to the regional
economy.
