According to the most recent Thomson Reuters-NPR Health Poll, which gauges Americans’ opinions on various healthcare issues, 58 percent of Americans say they choose organic over conventionally produced foods when possible.
The survey found that young respondents express the strongest preference for organic foods, with 63 percent under the age of 35 saying they choose organic products when possible. Among those with at least a bachelor’s degree, 64 percent prefer organic.
More than one-third (36 percent) of survey respondents who favor organics said they purchase them in an effort to support local farmers’ markets–though reports indicate that most organic food is not locally produced or sourced.
In a close second, 34 percent cited an effort to avoid toxins in their food. Concerns about toxins were strongest among respondents with at least a college education. And, interestingly, just 13 percent said they purchase organics because they prefer the flavor.
Of those who prefer conventional food, more than half (54 percent) cited price as the primary driver, while 21 percent attributed their choice to the wider availability of non-organics.
The results are based on responses from 3,014 participants who were interviewed in May.