Sustainable Food Activities Among Consumers: A Community Study

Abstract

Consumers engage in many types of sustainable activities. A mail survey of 663 adults in one community examined the practice of sustainable food activities. Respondents participated in an average of 3 of 13 types of sustainable food activities, with women, older, and more educated consumers participating more frequently. Sustainable food activity participation was associated with few health conditions, except that food allergies were associated with more involvement in farmer's markets, choosing organic foods, being vegetarian, and composting. These findings suggest that particular demographic categories of individuals and health problems may lead to greater involvement in sustainable food activities.

Keywords:

• sustainable
• consumers
• health
• food
• environment
• community
• allergies
• organic
• vegetarian
• farmers' market

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University for partially funding this project, and Thomas Lyson and Jennifer Wilkins for suggestions.