Results of Ithaca Farm Market Survey

In 2019, the Farmers Market Federation of New York received a grant to study farm market shopper habits in New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maryland. In the article " Survey results offer food for thought for struggling farmers markets" by Judy Rife, the author details some of the findings of the survey.

"The survey, ultimately completed by 3,847 people in 32 states as interest in it spread, found universal support for local farmers and local food. The freshness and quality of locally grown fruits and vegetables were valued even by people who didn't shop for them at farmers markets."

Also, the customers "that shopped at farmers markets the most often tended to be white, female, older (45-59 years of age) and employed and had a higher income ($50,000 to $99,000) and smaller household (one or two persons). But many of the respondents shared those characteristics in significant numbers regardless of where they shopped."