Over the past decade, consumers have been showing a greater preference for locally grown and produced foods. A recent survey conducted by the Colorado Department of Agriculture in collaboration with Colorado State University, shows that attitudes toward agriculture reveal that local preference has moved beyond a trend to a lifestyle for Coloradans.

The survey, conducted every five years since 1996, aims to better understand consumer attitudes on a range of issues.

Respondents cite price and flavor as two primary motivators to purchase and eat locally grown and produced foods. Almost 85% agree that supporting local food systems is important, while 95% feel maintaining land and water in ag production is important. And 90% of survey respondents believe agriculture is very important to the quality of life in Colorado.

In a statement releasing survey results, Don Brown, Colorado commissioner of agriculture, noted: "As agriculture becomes increasingly complex, and consumers become more interested in understanding where their food comes from, it's important for us to understand public perceptions and to identify new opportunities to engage consumers in a two-way conversation about Colorado agriculture."

In the survey, consumers cited corn, peaches, melons, vegetables and cattle as the top five products they believe to be grown or raised in Colorado; while in reality, cattle, dairy, corn, hay and wheat hold the top five spots.

This look at consumer perception versus the reality of ag production in the state speaks to the success of the CDA and ag associations, and trade groups working with producers, ranchers and growers to brand Colorado-grown products like sweet corn, Rocky Ford cantaloupes, Western Slope peaches, Pueblo chiles and more. These and other local foods have benefited from support of CDA's Colorado Proud program.

Ag is important in the state, with more than 34,000 farms encompassing nearly 32 million acres. Colorado ag also provides more than 173,000 jobs, contributes more than $40 billion to the state's economy annually and exports nearly $2 billion annually.

You can check out an infographic summarizing the survey online at bit.ly/2ePx5j9.

Sources: Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University