A new report done by consulting firm A.T. Kearney is providing more food for thought into the notion consumers are moving more and more towards buying local and will go out of their way to get it, even if it means going to more then one grocery store.   Their study shows consumers are eating up local food options because they believe it will help local economies (66 per cent), delivers a broader and better assortment of products (60 per cent) and provides healthier alternatives (45 per cent).  Of the people polled 30 per cent say they would consider touring aisles in other grocery stores if their store did not carry local foods.Consumers say trust is a major issue when purchasing local food.  Ranking them from most trust worthiness to worst, farmers markets and farm stores, natural food market, national food markets, national supermarkets and big box retailers rounding out the bottom was online retailers.68 per cent of respondents say that local food contributes positively to sustainability, while only 50 per cent believe organic foods contribute, suggesting environmentally conscious consumers will seek out local food more actively than organic food.The study also revealed all incomes segments of consumers said that they were willing to pay a premium for local food (70 per cent).The full report can be found at www.atkearney.com.

The study’s release comes on the heels of a study done by Farmers Feed Cities on Canadian consumers to see the result of that study click here or go to their home page at www.farmersfeedcities.com    RRC blogger Erin Leduc (@wannamakeitfarm) wrote about it in her Farmers Feed Cities! blog last month.

A fire at a cheese factory east of Ottawa has left 60 people without jobs.    According to media reports, no one was in the factory when the blaze broke out on Sunday.  50 producers are co-owners of the factory which produces cheddars, curds among other dairy delicacies.

Pool returns look strong

The poor condition of the US Hard Red Winter wheat crop means higher winter pool returns.  This according to the CWB, who says winter pool projected returns are now 10 dollars per tonne higher than they were at this time last month.    The Canadian Wheat Board also adds the lack of physical corn south of the border that strong wheat feeding will continue through to new crop corn availability.    Pool return outlooks for canola are 35 dollars per tonne higher and durum is 6 dollars per tonne higher than they were at the start of the year.

Alberta looks for more agricultural trade with Asia

Representatives from the agricultural industry met with the province’s Asia Advisory committee during three days of meetings to discuss Alberta’s Asia-specific initiatives.  Based on the meeting the council has identified three priorities, which include:

• enhancing public awareness of the importance of expanding market access to Asia;
• work with government and industry to set hard targets for trade and investment, work on strategies to create more opportunities for Alberta’s small and medium sized enterprises doing business in Asia and for Alberta students to study abroad; and
• help complement the Government of Alberta’s advocacy efforts to create new access to Asian markets.