Food, Fuel and the Future: Consumer Perceptions of Local Food, Food Safety and Climate Change in the Context of Rising Prices

Abstract

<p>In the past year, rising fuel and food pri ces coupled with increased concerns about environmental impacts and safety of our f ood supply have prompted a number of actions by U.S. consumers regarding their food purchas es. Against this backdrop of rising prices, demand for locally grown food products continues to increase. Given these developments, the Leopold Center’s Mark eting and Food Systems Initiative conducted consumer market research in August 2008 to examine consumer perceptions of the complex relationships among rising food and fuel prices, food safety, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, and food syst ems of varying scales (local, regional, national).</p>