Growing a few vegetables in the backyard may have effects that extend far beyond the garden gate that could impact economics.
More than 53 million U.S. households participate in food gardening, a number that has grown steadily in recent years. A nationwide survey suggests that firsthand experience producing food may shape how consumers value locally grown produce.
That’s what new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Department of Food and Resource Economics (FRE) research by Chenxi Hu, Ph.D. student and Applied Economics researcher and Zhifeng Gao, professor and director of the Florida Agricultural Market Research Center, found.
“Gardeners occupy an unusual position in the food system. They’re consumers, but they’re also producers on a very small scale,” said Hu. “That dual role seems to shape how they value food grown near them.”
In their recently published research in Agribusiness, Hu and Gao describe that people who have grown their own food are more willing to pay for locally grown produce, suggesting that gardening may strengthen support for local agriculture and the communities it serves.
Hu and Gao suggest that firsthand experience growing food may influence how consumers think about locally produced fruits and vegetables.
While many consumers preferred tomatoes with stems on them and labeled organic, researchers found that gardeners were willing to pay about 28 cents more per pound for locally grown tomatoes, roughly double the premium of 14 cents reported by people who had never grown their own food.
“The most interesting part isn’t just that gardeners paid more,” said Hu. “Gardening didn’t change what people were willing to pay for the organic label, or for stems and stickers on the tomato. It only changed what they’d pay for local.”
Researchers say gardening offers a unique perspective on where food comes from and what it takes to grow it. Whether tending a backyard plot or a community garden, gardeners gain firsthand experience with the time, effort and care involved in producing food. That experience may help explain why some consumers that garden often feel a stronger connection to local farmers and food sources.
Researchers say community gardens can help foster those connections by bringing neighbors together around fresh food, healthy eating and local agriculture.
“Community and home gardens are usually discussed in terms of food access and health benefits. Our findings suggest they may also be strengthening demand for local food,” said Hu. “This is an add-on benefit that can be introduced to local agricultural communities by encouraging vegetable gardening.”
The research may also hold lessons for local farmers and food businesses.
People who grow their own food appear to be especially interested in supporting local agriculture, creating opportunities for growers to connect with consumers who value knowing where their food comes from.
“Gardeners are a segment that local producers can find,” Hu said. “Community garden programs and gardening events are places where these consumers already gather, which makes them a practical starting point for growers who want to reach people already inclined to buy local.”
Ultimately, the findings suggest that a backyard garden can do more than produce fresh fruits and vegetables. It may also help people develop a deeper appreciation for local food, the farmers who grow it and the communities they serve.
By offering a firsthand look at the work behind every harvest, gardening can help connect people to the journey food takes from seed to table.
“A backyard garden won’t feed a household, but it may change how that household chooses to shop for that family food supply,” Hu said. “That’s a small intervention with a wider effect than most people would expect.”
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ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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