Survey says Mainers prefer locally produced food

AUGUSTA – More than three-quarters of Maine residents would like to buy more Maine food at their local supermarkets, a survey released Wednesday revealed.

Commissioned by the Maine Department of Agriculture, the survey was planned to assess consumer attitudes and beliefs about buying food and farm products produced in Maine.

“The goal of this survey was to document how well our message to buy local has been received and to learn more about consumer preferences and buying habits,” said Agriculture Commissioner Robert Spear.

“We were pleased that such a high percentage of Mainers want to buy Maine produced foods. We will continue working with food producers and retailers to make Maine foods more available and visible in the marketplace,” said Spear.

The survey reinforces the success that the department’s “get real, get Maine” campaign has experienced, a program that nearly half the survey respondents said they were familiar with. The survey results will be used to shape the future of the campaign.

“We can see that consumers are making the connection between the purchase of local food products and the impact on the local economy,” said Mary Ellen Johnston, director of market and product development at the MDAg. “Maine farms have to be profitable in order to stay in business and remain an important part of our communities.”

A total of 302 interviews were conducted last fall by the Portland Research Group. Of that group, 71 percent agreed with the statement “Knowing how my food is grown is important to me.”

Those surveyed said they purchased fresh produce, dairy products, potatoes, apples, wild blueberries, seafood, meat and poultry and maple syrup, in that order.

Other results include:

. 89 percent said that buying Maine food and farm products improves the local economy.

. 52 percent said they make a special effort to purchase Maine foods.

. 59 percent agreed that more state funds should be allocated to promote the availability and access to Maine produced foods.