Attitudes and Behaviors Related to Locally Grown and Sustainable Foods in a Multiethnic Population

Abstract

We investigated the feasibility and attitudes/behaviors of sustainable produce at a farmer's market in a multi‐ethnic [White (n=40.4%), Hispanic (n=26.2%), Asian (n=20.6%), and other (n=8.5%)] college campus. Our farmer's market pilot test held at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) not only demonstrated that having a farmer's market on a college campus is feasible, but 77.3% of students, faculty, and staff rated it as very beneficial. Knowledge surrounding local and organic foods, purchasing behaviors, and demographics were also recorded to investigate potential factors related to preference for local and/or organic produce. The number of meals prepared at home per week was associated with interest in attending a farmer's market (r=.232, p=.003), as well as favoring organic produce (r=.154, p=.035). Although 85.1% of subjects have attended a farmer's market off campus, 90.8% CSUF students, 95.8% faculty, and 94.4% staff highly favor having a farmer's market on campus offering local and/or organic produce. Our data suggests that behaviors such as cooking at home and purchasing organic foods are correlated with attending a farmer's market, and a majority are interested in increasing availability to healthful, sustainable produce at a multiethnic campus. A further study of factors associated with preference for local/organic produce is essential to progress movement towards a healthful population.