The demand for locally grown and produced foods in Colorado over the past 10 years has gone from being a mere trend to a lifestyle for many Coloradans.
This according to a recent survey conducted by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), in collaboration with Colorado State University, about consumer attitudes toward agriculture.
Almost 85 percent of those surveyed cited price and flavor as the two main reasons they purchase and eat locally grown and produced foods, while 95 percent felt that maintaining land and water in agricultural production is important. And 90 percent believe agriculture is very important to the quality of life in Colorado.
According to the survey, consumers cited corn, peaches, melons, vegetables and cattle as the top five products they believe to be grown or raised in Colorado, while in reality cattle, dairy, corn, hay and wheat hold the top five spots.
Colorado agriculture consistently ranks as one of the state’s top three leading industries, and with more than 34,000 farms encompassing nearly 32 million acres, contributes more than $40 billion to the state’s economy annually.
