ALERT: This system is being upgraded on Tuesday December 12. It will not be available
for use for several hours that day while the upgrade is in progress. Deposits to DukeSpace
will be disabled on Monday December 11, so no new items are to be added to the repository
while the upgrade is in progress. Everything should be back to normal by the end of
day, December 12.
Consumer Perceptions of the Connection Between Food Production and Climate Change at Five Farmers’ Markets in North Carolina
Abstract
Farmers’ markets have been increasing in number across the United States since the
1970s, rising to 4, 685 in 2008. An alternative form of agriculture has increased
along with the rise in farmers’ markets, focused on sustainable farming practices
and civic engagement. Many reasons have been identified for increased support of
alternative food systems, including the ability to purchase fresh foods of high quality,
to support local farmers, to address environmental concerns, and to avoid mass production
that can lead to food security problems. This study examines the main reasons for
shopping locally that were identified by respondents at five farmers’ markets in North
Carolina. In particular, focus is placed on environmental reasons for shopping and
on whether an effort to limit personal or household climate footprints is part of
the decision to shop at farmers’ markets. In 2005, the agricultural sector in the
United States was responsible for 7% of total greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide,
methane, and nitrous oxide (7260 Tg CO2 eq). Sustainable agriculture is capable of
lessening greenhouse gas contributions to global climate change through farming practices
that avoid petro-chemical pesticides and fertilizers, that adopt reduced tillage techniques,
and that limit fossil fuel-based inputs. Survey results showed that most respondents
did not shop at farmers’ markets to reduce climate footprints, but did state that
environmental concerns were important in the decision to shop locally at markets.
Evidence of support for sustainable farming practices from respondents could encourage
more farmers in the state to adopt sustainable farming practices. The most significant
reasons given for shopping at farmers’ markets were to purchase fresh foods of high
quality that were healthy for consumers, and to support local farmers. Information
from and education by farmers about their farming practices may help inform more market
customers of agricultural effects on the environment.
Type
Master's projectSubject
sustainable agriculturefarmers' markets
local food production
global climate change
qualitative research methods
North Carolina
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/1039Citation
Hozyash, Krista (2009). Consumer Perceptions of the Connection Between Food Production and Climate Change
at Five Farmers’ Markets in North Carolina. Master's project, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/1039.Collections
More Info
Show full item record
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Rights for Collection: Nicholas School of the Environment
Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info