Splendid Table Survey on Preferences for Making Sustainable Food Choices

More than 15,000 people completed our survey, an extraordinary number and a clear indication that the issue of sustainability is being taken seriously. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to take the survey. The results were incredible to see and will help up advance this cause nationally.

Part I: The importance of sustainability in your food choices

Is sustainability a factor in your food choices?

1. What do you consider when you think of sustainability. Pick three.

2. How important to you is buying fruits and vegetables locally and in season?

3. Do you have access to food cooperatives?

4. Do you have access to a farmer's market?

5. If the answer is yes to either numbers 3 or 4, do you usually purchase your food from one or both of these rather than a super market?

6. Are you willing to pay more for certified organic produce, and if so, how much?

7. Do you buy locally produced meat and poultry?

8. Are you aware of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch list?

9. If yes, do you make seafood choices based upon its recommendations?

10. If you answered no to number 8, or don't follow Seafood Watch: do you make an effort to know where your seafood is sourced?

11. What are your most important factors in buying seafood? Check three.

12. What types of growing practices (fruits and vegetables) do you think affect food flavor? Choose the three most important factors.

Part II: Attitudes about food safety

1. How important is it to know where your food comes from?

2. Should the Federal government regulate food more closely?

3. Do you feel safer buying from: (select one)

4. Are there any countries or regions whose food products you usually avoid?

5. Are you concerned about how cattle and poultry are raised?

6. Have you had a food-born illness in the community where you live?

7. How concerned are you about water contaminating your food?

8. How concerned are you about the quantity of clean water required to grow fruits and vegetables and/or sustain animals?

Part III: How far are you willing to go?

1. Do you grow some of your own fruits and vegetables? If yes, please check all that apply. If no, proceed to the next question.

2. Do you raise your own livestock? If yes, please check all that apply. If no, proceed to the next question.

3. Does your household freeze or in any way preserve produce you have grown or that is obtained locally for use in off-season? If the answer is yes, for how long have you preserved foods? If no, proceed to the next question.

4. Where does your household most often shop for food?

5. Is distance a factor in where you shop?

6. On average how often do you make a trip to buy food?

7. When making your food purchases, do you most often:

8. Some families and/or individuals are setting parameters for the distance their food comes from, whether it's organic, sustainably grown (see criteria listed above), in season etc. Are you now, or have you ever considered setting all or some of these types of criteria for purchasing food?

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