Alternative Agricultural Markets in Alberta, 2012

1) restaurants serving local food 
2) community supported agriculture or community shared agriculture (CSA)/box programs

• $878 million combined market value for farmers' markets and farm retail

¹ 2012f = forecast

• Market value for farmers' markets tripled since 2004, reaching $724 million in 2012
  • Almost 75% of Alberta households purchased food at farmers' markets.
  • Annual spending per household in 2012 for farmers' markets rose substantially to $671.
  • Average per visit spending at farmers' markets increased to $55.
  • Over 80% of farmers' market expenditures were made on food grown or made in Alberta.
  
  
  

• Market value for farm retail in 2012 was $154 million
  • Almost 95% of total farm retail expenditures were made on food grown or made in Alberta.
  • Average per visit spending at farm retail remains steady at $115.
  • Only 35% of the population knew 'a lot' or 'something' about farm retail, making it an unrealized market opportunity.

• Consumers spent $374 million at restaurants serving local food
  • Restaurants sourcing Alberta food earn a 46% price premium.
  • Almost 25% of Alberta households chose restaurants because they use Alberta ingredients.
  • 22% had heard of Dine Alberta.

• Alberta households purchasing from community supported agriculture or community shared agriculture (CSA)/box programs spent an average of $564 annually
  • Of that, $364 was spent on food grown or made in Alberta.
  • Almost 50% of Alberta consumers are unfamiliar with CSA/box programs making this another opportunity for growth.
  
  
• Local food growth trend remains strong
  • Almost 95% of Alberta households purchased food grown or made in Alberta in the last 12 months; 90% of those intend to buy the same or more local food in the next 12 months.
  • The top five influencers driving Alberta's farm families' decisions to buy food grown or made in Alberta were:
    1. Freshness
    2. Quality
    3. Taste
    4. Safety
    5. Support for Alberta farm families