Growers and consumers disagree markedly on who is most responsible for leading and promoting sustainability practices and policies.
While growers say they should be responsible for leading and promoting sustainability, consumers said the federal government should have the lead role.
The Packer’s Sustainable Insights Survey asked both growers and consumers the question “Who do you feel is most responsible for leading and promoting sustainability practices and policies ?”
More than half of consumers (51%) said the federal government is most responsible for leading and promoting sustainable practices and policies, while 36% of consumers said that growers are most responsible. Other answers were:
- Local/state government: 28%;
- Grocers/retailers: 22%;
- Consumers: 17%;
- Academia/universities: 10%;
- None of the above: 10%; and
- Other: 1%
Growers’ perspective
Thirty-nine percent growers said they should take the leading and promoting sustainability, while 22% of growers said the federal government is most responsible. Other answers by growers on the leadership question were:
- Retailers: 11%;
- Local/state government: 7%;
- Academia/universities: 7%;
- Other: 5%;
- None of the above: 4%;
- Consumers: 4%;
- Food Processors/manufacturers: 2%; and
- Fertilizers & additives manufacturers: 1%;
Point of difference
Another difference in attitudes between consumer and growers is the source of consumer information about sustainability.
Consumers say that general internet searches (32%), television (31%), and their friends and family (30%) are the primary sources of their information on sustainability, while growers believe that social media (80%) is overwhelmingly their primary source. Only 20% of consumers mentioned social media as a source.
