Confusion and Questions Surround Popular Food Topics and Trends

CommonGround aims to help U.S. moms find the facts

Recently CommonGround, a soy checkoff co-sponsored program, commissioned the Gate-to-Plate survey to gain insights into how U.S. moms feel and think about their food and the food choices they make for their families. More than 70 percent of moms surveyed admitted to having questions or concerns about how their food is grown or raised – a number that CommonGround hopes to decrease through independent, third-party data; firsthand experience; and honest, open conversations.

Top survey results – and corresponding food and farming facts – include:

Confusion (and guilt) surrounds organic food: many moms are willing to pay more for this type of food but are unsure of what they are buying

• More than 60 percent of moms overall – and nearly 80 percent of moms ages 18 to 24 – would buy organic meat, produce and dairy foods if they could afford it, but fewer than one out of 10 moms could accurately identify the criteria used for organic designation or certification.
• Moms surveyed cited not being able to afford organic meat, produce and dairy foods as their biggest source of food guilt or food challenge.
• Nearly half of all moms surveyed believe that organic foods have a greater nutritional value than similar nonorganic items.

The facts: The production processes involved in growing or raising food qualify it as organic, not the final product itself. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which certifies organic production, makes no claims that organically grown food is more nutritious than conventionally grown food. Organic food proves to be only different in how it is grown, handled and processed. All foods – whether organic or nonorganic – must meet certain health and safety regulations before being sold to consumers. Find out more here. Source – USDA

Most moms vastly underestimate the number of family farms

• Nearly half of all moms surveyed believe that non-family-owned corporate farms represent 65 percent of all U.S. farms.

The facts: 98 percent of U.S. farms are family-owned, often with generations still farming together. Currently, more than 2 million family farms exist in the United States. Find out more here. Source – USDA

The majority of moms overestimate Americans’ food budgets

• Nearly one in three moms believes that the average American family spends more than 30 percent of their total income on food.

The facts: American consumers spend only 10 percent of their income on food compared with 18 to 25 percent around the world. Find out more here. Source – USDA-ERS

CommonGround is a grassroots movement to foster conversation among women – on farms and in cities – about where our food comes from. CommonGround was developed by the United Soybean Board (USB) and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) in an effort to give farm women the opportunity to speak with consumers using a wide range of activities. USB and NCGA provide support and a platform for the volunteers to tell their stories.