Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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Americans eat more fresh foods than they did five years ago
By Tim Carman
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-we-can-eat/post/americans-eat-more-fresh-foods-than-they-did-five-years-ago/2012/05/22/gIQAyPS1gU_blog.htm

Survey says: Most Americans think it's important for everyone to have access 
to fresh fruits and vegetables. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post) As 
Congress debates whether to trim the food stamps budget as part of the 
massive Farm Bill reauthorization, lawmakers might want to consider this 
striking statistic from a new W.K. Kellogg Foundation survey: Three-quarters 
of Americans say they support a national program that would double 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or food stamp) benefits at farmers 
markets.

“It’s a wonderful sign of the increasing level of empathy,” says Gail 
Christopher, vice president for program strategy for the W.K. Kellogg 
Foundation. It’s an acknowledgment, she adds, that “the health of others 
could have an impact on their lives as well.”

The Kellogg survey of 800 American adults unearthed some other, arguably, 
surprising statistics about the country’s attitudes about fresh fruits and 
vegetables — and the people who harvest them. Approximately 88 percent of 
respondents would strongly or partly agree to pay $1.50 more per month if it 
guaranteed that farm workers would be paid a fair wage.

What’s more, 70 percent of respondents said they have purchased fresh produce 
from a farmers market or stand in the past year (although only 14 percent use 
this source as their regular outlet for fruits and vegetables). And more than 
68 percent of those surveyed say they eat more whole grains, fruits and 
vegetables than they did five years ago.

These findings would appear to underscore the success of various 
organizations, progressive school districts, environmentalists, activist 
chefs, good food advocates and writers, and first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s 
Move! campaign in spreading the gospel about local produce, fresh fruits and 
vegetables and more healthful diets. The message is clearly sinking in with 
the American public.

And yet, it’s hard to know exactly how far attitudes have shifted among 
Americans, notes Christopher, given that the Kellogg Foundation has not 
conducted any earlier surveys similar to this one. The best comparison 
Kellogg has, she said, is a 15-year-old survey “asking about the notion of a 
food system.”

“People didn’t even know what a food system was” then, Christopher says. 
“We’re pretty certain that this [new survey] represents a change over the 
past decade or more.”

Among the survey’s other findings:

* 63 percent of respondents say they know a lot or a little about where their 
fresh fruits and vegetables come from.

* 89 percent say their source for fresh fruits and vegetables is within 
walking distance or is a short drive away.

* 45 percent say they acquired fresh fruits and/or vegetables from their own 
garden within the past year.

* 93 percent say they think it’s “very important” or “somewhat important” to 
“make sure all Americans have equal access to fresh fruits and vegetables.”

* 64 percent say it’s “very important” that produce be grown in an 
“environmentally friendly way.”

* 64 percent say it’s “very important” or “somewhat important” that produce 
be organic.

* And finally, in another response that lawmakers might ponder as they 
reauthorize the Farm Bill, 83 percent of those surveyed strongly or partly 
agree that “Washington, D.C., should shift its support more toward smaller, 
local fruit and vegetable farmers and away from large farm businesses.”

Could that have ramifications for Big Ag subsidies?

All of this should come as welcome news for the organizations, activists and 
leaders who gather today in Asheville, N.C., for the Kellogg Foundation’s 
Food & Community Conference, which works to provide access to good food and 
physical activity for all communities. The poll results will be announced as 
part of the conference’s opening day.

The survey was conducted by Lauer Johnson Research from April 18-22 and has a 
margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.