A recent nationwide study shows consumers would pay a premium for local dairy products if they were readily available.
Phil Durst with Michigan State University Extension tells Brownfield more than 20,000 consumers were surveyed pre-COVID as part of a USDA study to learn about potential marketing opportunities for small and medium-sized farms.
“Approximately three-quarters of consumers really prefer to purchase local products,” he highlights.
He says those findings have held true throughout the pandemic as demand for both local beef and dairy has remained after an initial spike last spring.