Interest in local food systems has increased dramatically as has the number of farmers’ markets
in Iowa and nationwide. This growing popularity has sparked a common question: Is local food more expensive than its non-local counterpart? A research scan finds a dearth of studies showing the prices consumers pay for locally grown food products. Given these developments, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture’s Marketing and Food Systems Initiative conducted consumer market research in June, July, and August 2009 to examine what Iowa consumers pay for locally grown products and how these prices compare to non-local market channel prices.