Study of Local Food Demand in Alberta, 2016

In 2004, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AAF) established a baseline estimate of consumer food expenditure at farmers’ markets and farm retail¹ in Alberta. The study was repeated in 2008 and began to explore the trend to purchase local food, defined as “food grown or made in Alberta” and its value represented at farmers’ markets and farm retail. As market opportunities for farmers continue to grow by selling through a variety of market channels, the study repeated in 2012 also established a baseline estimate of consumer food expenditure at restaurants chosen for serving local food. The study was repeated in 2016 and compared with previous findings.
.
¹ Farm retail includes farm gate, farm store or stand, a roadside stall, a greenhouse on a farm, a U-pick farm.

Highlights

Market value for farmers’ markets almost quadrupled since 2004, reaching $924.5 million in 2016.

Market value for farm retail increased 60% since 2004, reaching $303.7 million in 2016.

Market value of restaurants chosen for serving Alberta food ingredients on their menus
increased 5.8% since 2012, reaching $395.6 million.

Local Food

Majority (96%) of Alberta consumers accept food grown or made in Alberta as local food.

For the full complete report of the Executive Summary it is available as a downloadable PDF - 712K
For the full complete copy of the Survey Report it is available as a downloadable PDF - 1499K
For the full complete copy of the Key Messages Infographic, it is available as a downloadable PDF - 469K

For more information about the content of this document, contact Mimi Lee.
This document is maintained by Rita Splawinski.
This information published to the web on September 26, 2017.
Last Reviewed/Revised on April 13, 2018.