Is Local Food More Expensive? A Consumer Price Perspective on Local and Non-local Foods Purchased in Iowa

December 2009

Rich Pirog, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and Nick McCann, Iowa State University graduate student

Is local food more expensive than its non-local counterpart? The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture’s Marketing and Food Systems Initiative conducted consumer market research in June, July, and August 2009 to examine what Iowa consumers pay for locally grown products and how these prices compare to non-local market channel prices. This handout explains the comparisons [PDF]  Read news release about this project.

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The Leopold Center was established by the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act as a research and education center at Iowa State University to develop sustainable agricultural practices that are both profitable and conserve natural resources. Iowa State does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran. Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact the Director of Affirmative Action, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

This page was found at http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/pubs-and-papers/2009-12-local-food-more-expensive on 01/21/2013