Local Food

Consultation has concluded

Illustrated graphic with various food stands. A family with two children is walking towards a farmer.The City of Kingston and its partners are looking for feedback to inform the development of a local food strategy. The goal of this survey is to better understand the perceptions and food-buying habits of Kingstonians.

Results collected will help inform the City of Kingston’s local food strategy and provide messaging for a public awareness campaign to support local food initiatives.

Survey respondents will be entered to win a grocery gift card valued at $100.

Illustrated graphic with various food stands. A family with two children is walking towards a farmer.The City of Kingston and its partners are looking for feedback to inform the development of a local food strategy. The goal of this survey is to better understand the perceptions and food-buying habits of Kingstonians.

Results collected will help inform the City of Kingston’s local food strategy and provide messaging for a public awareness campaign to support local food initiatives.

Survey respondents will be entered to win a grocery gift card valued at $100.

Consultation has concluded

  • Local Food Survey Reporting Out

    Why we engaged

    The City of Kingston and its partners are looking to develop a local food strategy. With the goal of better understanding the perceptions and food-buying habits of Kingstonians, a survey was conducted to collect feedback to inform the strategy.

    This engagement directly supports the strategic priority of supporting local food, food production, agriculture, food security and sovereignty.

    How we engaged

    A survey was conducted on Get Involved Kingston from June 28 until August 18. The community was provided with the opportunity to engage online, by phone, by email or in-person at pop-up events, including Canada Day in Shannon Park and Pride at City Park. Social media and the Get Involved Kingston Newsletter were used to communicate this opportunity to the public, and the survey was also shared via email with city councillors and community partners such as Loving Spoonful and the Memorial Market.

    As an incentive for participation, respondents were invited to submit their email in a draw for a $100 grocery gift card. The draw was completed, and the winner was contacted on October 11, 2023.

    Who we heard from

    • 880 engaged participants completed the survey, with 870, or 98%, of respondents being consumers as compared to only 9% reporting they were farmers, home business or a community gardener.
    • 2,203 aware participants visited the project page
    • 80 participants engaged with the City for the first time on Get Involved Kingston


    What we heard

    It was important for staff to collect a broad range of opinions on a variety of topics related to food, and as a result, the survey was 16 questions long and took approximately 10 minutes to complete. The following is a summary of responses and themes identified by staff. Verbatim feedback and full results of the survey are available below in Exhibit C.

    Definition of local (Question 1)

    Nearly all respondents understood what “local food” meant when asked in a multiple-choice question, with the majority of respondents answered that local food mean that it was either grown in my region (80%), grown in Ontario (54%) or grown within 100 km (53%). Less than 1% said that they did not know what local food meant.

    Purchasing habits (Questions 2, 4, 5, and 6)

    In the past year, most respondents have bought local food weekly, with 90% of people buying local food in the past year, and 53% purchasing it weekly. Purchases of local food were most often made at local grocery stores (74%), farmers’ markets (72%) or at a farm or farm gate (47%). Culturally-specific food stores (4%) and online (6%) were the least frequent food purchase locations. The majority of respondents go out of their way to buy local food (90%) and find it easy to find it easy to get locally produced foods (80%). Most respondents are also willing to pay more for local food (70%) however half of respondents don’t believe the cost is comparable to food that isn’t grown or produced locally (50%).

    Barriers to buying local food (Question 8)

    A variety of barriers face respondents when they buy local food. These include the amount of time it takes to find local food or read labels (55% feel it is too long), and knowing if food is local or not in the store (45%) or in restaurants (72%). If food was specific to Indigenous producers would not influence a purchase according to survey respondents.

    Convenience, labelling and awareness key to influencing purchase behaviours (Question 9)

    If local food was more convenient to access, a large majority of respondents would purchase and consume it more often (83%). Wider availability in big box stores (80%), wider availability of products in winter (70%) and lower prices (73%) would also influence respondents to buy local foods more often. Visiting farms (18%) or participating in growing local food (19%) would have the least influence on purchasing behaviours. Clear labeling (42%) was moderately important to respondents and having more information available about local food being the least area of influence (16%).

    Next steps

    The results from this public engagement will be shared with the Rural Advisory Committee, and related departments. The feedback will be considered for the development of a local food strategy and provide messaging for future public awareness campaigns, as well as projects/programs to support Council Strategic Priorities related to food.

    Exhibit C

    All feedback, including verbatim written comments and number of responses to each question in the survey are included below. Feedback that does not follow the Guidelines for Participation are removed from the public engagement summary.


    Question one: What does “local food” mean to you? Check all that apply.

    • 477 participants selected “Ontario grown”
    • 702 participants selected “Grown in my region”
    • 144 participants selected “Grown in Canada”
    • 12 participants selected “Grown in my country of birth”
    • 233 participants selected “Grown on a family farm”
    • 468 participants selected “Grown within 100 km”
    • 228 participants selected “Processed in my region”
    • 155 participants selected “Processed in Ontario”
    • 53 participants selected “Processed in Canada”
    • 13 participants selected “I’m not sure what local food means”
    • Ten participants selected “Other”


    Question two: Have you bought local food in the last 12 months?

    • 800, or 90.9 per cent of participants responded “Yes”
    • 80, or 6.8 per cent of participants responded “I’m not sure”
    • 20, or 2.3 per cent of participants responded “No”


    Question three: If you purchased local food in the past 12 months, which of the following did you purchase? Check all that apply.

    • 789 participants selected “vegetables”
    • 670 participants selected “fruits”
    • 393 participants selected “meat”
    • 445 participants selected “cheese”
    • 534 participants selected “maple syrup/honey”
    • 168 participants selected “herbs, spices, mixes”
    • 101 participants selected “ethnic foods”
    • 94 participants selected “other”


    Question four: If you have purchased local food in the past 12 months, how regularly do you purchase local food?

    • 369, or 43.6 per cent of participants responded “weekly”
    • 269, or 31.8 per cent of participants responded “monthly”
    • 177, or 10.9 per cent of participants responded “occasionally (once every few months)”
    • 32, or 3.8 per cent responded “rarely (a few times per year)”


    Question five: If you purchased local food in the past 12 months, where did you purchase it? Check all that apply.

    • 625 participants selected “local grocery store”
    • 401 participants selected “farm or farm gate sale”
    • 157 participants selected “health food store”
    • 37 participants selected “culturally specific food store”
    • 70 participants selected “residential food business”
    • 151 participants selected “community-supported agriculture (including farm subscriptions and community gardens)”
    • 612 participants selected “farmer’s markets”
    • 53 participants selected “online “via social media or digital platform”
    • 89 participants selected “other local food supplier”


    Question six: The following statements ask you about your food purchasing habits.

    • Whenever possible, I intentionally buy locally produced food
      • Two participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 37 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 93 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 318 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 397 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • I make it a priority to buy locally produced food
      • 35 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 87 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 150 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 305 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 290 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • I find it easy to get locally produced foods in the summer
      • 27 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 71 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 71 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 346 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 359 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • I find it easy to get locally produced foods in the winter
      • 218 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 379 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 115 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 144 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 18 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • I have little choice whether the foods I buy are locally grown
      • 91 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 223 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 209 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 265 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 81 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • I am willing to pay more for local food to support local farmers and food producers
      • 45 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 97 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 118 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 391 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 229 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • The cost of local food is comparable to what I would otherwise buy at a grocery store
      • 113 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 293 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 158 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 262 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 53 participants selected “definitely agree”


    Question seven: The following statements ask you about your perceptions of local food.

    • The quality of local food is usually very high
      • Zero participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • Nine participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 78 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 289 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 500 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • Local food stays fresh for as the same length of time as does nonlocal food
      • 39 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 130 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 192 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 236 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 277 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • I know what types of foods are available seasonally in our region
      • 22 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 74 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 78 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 385 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 315 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • It is possible to eat local foods all year-round
      • 108 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 265 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 174 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 247 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 77 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • The government should promote buying locally grown food
      • 17 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 23 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 96 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 198 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 539 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • The government should promote the institutional purchasing of locally grown food (e.g. for hospitals, schools, prisons)
      • 22 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 25 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 92 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 221 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 518 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • It does not matter to me if my food is locally grown
      • 406 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 279 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 118 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 52 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 23 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • It does not matter to me if my food is locally processed
      • 305 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 305 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 155 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 78 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 27 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • Buying local food is a way to maintain the vibrancy of rural communities in Ontario
      • Six participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • Zero participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 69 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 229 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 566 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • Buying local food reduces the threat of losing family farms to suburban sprawl and large industrial farms
      • 12 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 22 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 67 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 210 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 561 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • Buying local food helps me connect with my culture
      • 73 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 84 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 372 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 165 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 182 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • Buying local is important to support the local economy
      • 5 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 9 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 46 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 225 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 589 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • Buying local is a positive choice for the environment
      • 11 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 9 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 74 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 181 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 601 participants selected “definitely agree”


    Question eight: The following statements ask you about barriers to buying local food.

    • The distance I have to travel to buy local food is difficult
      • 140 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 234 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 194 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 257 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 52 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • The amount of time it takes to find local food (e.g. having to read labels and travel to different stores and markets) is challenging
      • 94 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 149 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 152 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 353 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 127 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • Ethnocentric food is limited in my region
      • 37 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 90 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 434 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 215 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 95 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • I am concerned that local food does not meet public health standards
      • 486 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 200 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 121 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 46 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 17 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • I find it difficult to know if food is local or not
      • 112 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 217 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 150 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 320 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 72 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • I would order more locally produced foods in restaurants if the menu items were clearly marked as locally grown
      • 21 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 35 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 188 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 289 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 340 participants selected “definitely agree”
    • I would like to purchase/consume food that is specific to Indigenous people and/or my own cultural upbringing
      • 88 participants selected “definitely disagree”
      • 82 participants Selected “somewhat disagree”
      • 421 participants selected “neither agree nor disagree”
      • 169 participants selected “somewhat agree”
      • 116 participants selected “definitely agree”


    Question nine: What would make you more likely to purchase and consume local foods? Check all that apply.

    • 704 participants selected “wider availability of products in the winter”
    • 336 participants selected “wider availability of processed products (jams, sauces)
    • 728 participants selected “availability in my local store”
    • 201 participants selected “the opportunity to visit local farms”
    • 116 participants selected “the chance to participate in growing”
    • 267 participants selected “the option to purchase in bulk from local farmers”
    • 213 participants selected “knowing the farmer”
    • 644 participants selected “lower prices”
    • 142 participants selected “more information about the importance of buying local food”
    • 370 participants selected “clearer, more specific labeling”
    • 615 participants selected “wider availability in big box stores (i.e., Walmart & Costco) or large grocery chain (i.e., Loblaws, Metro, etc.)”
    • 397 participants selected “having a central location to purchase local foods”
    • 449 participants selected “more convenient access to locations that sell local foods”
    • 192 participants selected “wider access to indigenous food and cuisine”
    • 165 participants selected “variety of ethnocentric food made available commercially”
    • 9 participants selected “nothing”
    • 29 participants selected “other”


    Question ten: What is your role (or roles) in the local food economy? Check all that apply.

    • 870 participants selected “Consumer”
    • 76 participants selected “producer (farmer, home business or community gardener, etc.)”
    • Nine participants selected “processor (dairies and cheesemakers, slaughterhouses, butchers, canneries, brewers and winemaker, community kitchens, food venture centres)”
    • Nine participants selected “distributor (marketing, transportation, sourcing local foods)”
    • Seven participants selected “government agent (policy maker, council member, etc.)”
    • 51 participants selected “educators (teacher, researcher, etc.)”
    • 41 participants selected “contributor (funder, investor, non-profit, grassroots, volunteer, etc.)”
    • 41 participants selected “other”