American Consumers Admit They Know Nothing About How Food Is Produced In The U.S.

Two national surveys have found a knowledge disconnect between Americans and the food production process in the U.S. The surveys found that Americans think a lot about how food is grown or raised, but don’t really have any idea how food makes its way to the dinner table: seventy-two percent admitted they know nothing or very little about farming or ranching. They acknowledge that food production is important to the success of the country, but are divided over whether it is going in the right or wrong direction. Overwhelmingly, the surveys found, farmers and ranchers share the same values as consumers on issues related to environmental stewardship and animal care. Consumers also said they wanted to know more about how chemicals and pesticides are used in farming and ranching, and about food safety standards.