Consumers Prefer Organic Food, Survey Says

A new Thomson Reuters poll [pdf] found that the majority (58%) of consumers prefer organic food to conventional food. This preference is particularly strong with those with a higher education, and those of a younger demographic. Sixty-three perfect of respondents under age 35 choose organics when possible.

Among those that prefer organic food, their primary reasons were broken down in four categories: supporting local farms (36%), avoiding toxins (34%), environmental health (17%) and taste (13%). Price was the primary reason that respondents preferred non-organic food.

Income was not a huge factor for organic food preference. In fact, those that made between $25,000 and $49,999 (61.2%) preferred organic slightly more than those that made over $100,000 (60.8%).

Comments

[hjalmar]

06:43 PM on 08/22/2011

If you care about having freedom of food choice, please watch this 4 minute trailer for the new film: Farmageddon:

http://farmageddonmovie.com/

[Chuck Bluestein]

03:22 PM on 07/31/2011

They do not label GMO food so we do not get a choice in that. The only way to avoid GMO food is to buy organic food. They do not label foods as irradiated so we do not get a choice in that. So the only way to make sure the food is not irradiated is to buy organic food. Then there is also the chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides.

[ArtsyJane]

09:59 AM on 07/27/2011

If too many people start buying organic food, it will not remain organic for long. Once there starts to be an economic interest in organic food, the big Agri-business is going to take over, though they will still call it "organic" of course. As it is, there are already people in Farmers markets selling produce not from a farm but from the grocery retailers.

[ToddlerJ]

09:03 AM on 07/27/2011

The mere fact that a "study" has revealed that, by a small margin, people prefer "organic" foods over the alternative of mass produced food tainted with things you are supposed to keep hidden from children, is just testament to how deeply people have been affected by the years of industry marketing that have convinced them that cheap equals good. Remember, if you spend less on food, it frees up your income to buy all that other cheap stuff made in foreign countries that someone else has convinced you buy. Think quality, buy local whenever possible.

[HonkyTonkMan]

09:22 AM on 07/25/2011

Same thing with climate change. Some people think that pumping toxins into the air, ground, and water have no ill effects on the health of an organism.

[Casa-Giardino]

08:50 AM on 07/25/2011

The only organic foods I trust are the ones my family and I grow in our vegetable garden.
http://casa-giardino.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-vegetable-garden.html

[Chuck Bluestein]

03:25 PM on 07/31/2011

Growing your own food is the best for the environment since you are not using lots of gasoline to transport the food.

[Casa-Giardino]

01:07 PM on 08/01/2011

Besides the gas savings, with us, growing our own vegetables is a matter of freshness.

[Alexa Dobson]

12:29 AM on 07/25/2011

Know more, make better choices. Not too surprising.

[henriette and hube]

02:47 PM on 07/25/2011

Absolutely. I'm not at all surprised. I see young people at our local organic Farmer's Market and at the organic natural food store. I see more and more young people adopting the vegan
lifestyle as well. This is encouraging and gives hope.

[Ozark Homesteader]

11:25 PM on 07/24/2011

I'm not surprised about the education link. The more you know, the less you can stomach conventional food. I also wonder if the education link is self perpetuating, since researchers have linked insecticides and herbicides with brain trouble in kids.

[c-tom]

08:50 PM on 07/24/2011

Wealthier people tend to buy more expensive foods. Not so much of a shocker.
Poorer people living in areas with few food shopping choices buy less fresh organic food. Again not really a shocker.

[Ozark Homesteader]

11:22 PM on 07/24/2011

I think you missed something. People on the lower end of middle class bought organic more often than people who make above $100k.

[c-tom]

06:31 PM on 07/25/2011

I'll tell you the truth I didn't look at the study; but there are a lot more making less than 100K than there are making more than that. Now if the study says a higher percentage of low income middle class buy than those making over much more who are in the same age group I'd be fairly surprised.

[crom14]

05:28 PM on 07/24/2011

It just taste better, all economic levels should be abel to buy Organic. I hope we all start growing food and I mean large Organic gardens and just give it to those in need.
Buy into a CSA. It is a gift to myself.

[mellene]

11:06 AM on 07/24/2011

This isn't a shocking poll. Most people who are educated about food production would not choose conventional over-processed food. Farmers' markets are more reliable than most grocery stores unless they're a co-op for having reliable labeling as to really being organic.

[colonelsun68]

09:08 AM on 07/24/2011

What? They don't want chemical, additive, and preservative laced food on their plate? They don't want to worry about future health issues because of these things? We have major chemical industries to support! Why are we wasting all this money on education?

[0ne Sick Puppy]

08:31 AM on 07/23/2011

Growing stuff is fun and anyone can do it. I started with a few pepper plants in some pots and now I'm a full blown Gardner with multiple raised beds. Fresh organic produce is so much better tasting as well. Anyone can do it and there is a ton of information on youtube for anyone who might want to try growing their own.

[kareemachan]

12:04 PM on 07/23/2011

Agreed. And you don't need a garden, per se, either. All of my gardening is in pots on our deck, as we have voracious mutant deer around here (smaller than normal and often with "pinto" coloration), and we don't have the money to put a deer-proof fence up. Right now, I'm growing radishes, salad greens, tomatoes, herbs, beans, peas, potatoes, bok choi, Japanese turnips, and a small columnar apple tree. It's fun and easy, and I love the fact that we have tree frogs living in the planters as well. They climb up and goggle at me when I water the plants. I don't know if they are indignant or saying thanks! ;-)

[0ne Sick Puppy]

12:54 PM on 07/23/2011

That's awesome. I can tell by your writing how much joy it brings you. Yes those pesky deer can be a problem. Fortunately for me I live in an area where the neighborhood dogs scare them off. Every once in awhile a few show up but for the most part they have left me alone. The other plus is I'm eating healthier. I'm constantly looking for dishes to incorporate more veggies into my diet so I can grow even more. The biggest misconception is that gardening is a lot of work. If you set it up right, it's not.

[Winter Skye]

06:52 PM on 07/23/2011

So how do container gardens prevent the deer? Do you bring in the containers at night?

[MzLimitless]

03:05 AM on 07/23/2011

The results of this survey were interesting and have a direct impact on my businesses target market. I'm curious to know how people in my community would respond to these survey questions. I know that for me and how I would have answered these questions is dead on. Eating healthy isn't enough these days. Knowing that the processes your food goes through still allows the introduction of toxins in to your food is enough to make you want to seek out other alternatives. Grocery stores are beginning to supply more organic produce. You pay through the nose for it though! Just more reasons to... #EatLiveGreen

[rg686217]

11:56 PM on 07/22/2011

I"ve managed a produce department and I simply think this article and the survey are fake.
A few older people on a health kick buy organic and that is about it.You can also put the old produce in the organic section and some dummy will come along and buy it.

[msgruvn]

02:52 AM on 07/23/2011

wish i knew where you worked-have you paid any attention at all as to why organic might be a better choice?

[kareemachan]

12:05 PM on 07/23/2011

Wow, I'm glad I live in a place where I know the local market and can trust they wouldn't pull cr@p like that.