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What is local and for what foods does it matter?

Author

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  • HU Wuyang

    (College of Economics and Management and College of Land Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China)

  • Ping QING

    (College of Economics and Management and College of Land Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China)

  • Marvin BATTE

    (Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA)

  • Tim WOODS

    (Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA)

  • Stam ERNST

    (Ohio State University Extension, Columbus, USA)

Abstract

This study answers two important questions related to local food that have not been sufficiently addressed before: what is the greatest distance food can travel and still be accepted by consumers as local, and is "local" an equally important product attribute across food categories. Using survey data from two states in the USA, this research found that consumers' accepted food travel distance may be much shorter than what is generally believed. In addition, there exists a great variation in the importance consumers attach to "being local" for different food categories and these differences can be related to variations in consumer demographics.

Suggested Citation

  • HU Wuyang & Ping QING & Marvin BATTE & Tim WOODS & Stam ERNST, 2013. "What is local and for what foods does it matter?," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 59(10), pages 454-466.
    • Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:59:y:2013:i:10:id:29-2013-agricecon
    DOI: 10.17221/29/2013-AGRICECON
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    1. Onken, Kathryn A. & Bernard, John C. & Pesek, John D., Jr., 2011. "Comparing Willingness to Pay for Organic, Natural, Locally Grown, and State Marketing Program Promoted Foods in the Mid-Atlantic Region," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 40(01), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Ying, Jiahui & Shonkwiler, Vanessa P. & Campbell, Benjamin L., 2018. "Willingness to Pay or Not to Pay: Valuing Foods Some Respondents Find Distasteful," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 274065, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Mehrjerdi, Mahla Zare & Woods, Timothy, 2018. "Local food purchasing frequency by locavores across market channels - implications for local food system development," 2018 Annual Meeting, February 2-6, 2018, Jacksonville, Florida 266769, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    4. Drago Cvijanović & Svetlana Ignjatijević & Jelena Vapa Tankosić & Vojin Cvijanović, 2020. "Do Local Food Products Contribute to Sustainable Economic Development?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, April.

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