New poll unveils many U.S. consumers prefer organic food

WASHINGTON — It seems that when given the opportunity, more consumers choose organic food over conventionally produced food, according to the latest poll conducted by Thomson Reuters and NPR.

The Thomson Reuters-NPR Health Poll found that among 3,014 participants interviewed from May 2 to 13, 58% preferred organic food. Additionally, more than two-thirds of consumers ages 35 years and younger, as well as those with a bachelor's degree or higher, preferred organic food (63% and 64%, respectively).

Breaking down why consumers prefer organic foods, Thomson Reuters and NPR discovered that 36% of consumers said their preference stemmed from their support of local farmer's markets, while 34% said they wanted to avoid exposure to toxins in nonorganic foods.

"There appears to be a generational difference in preference for organic foods," said Raymond Fabius, chief medical officer at the healthcare business of Thomson Reuters. "The strong, positive sentiment among young people indicates they are more concerned with exposure to toxins and place a higher premium on supporting local markets. It stands to reason that, by expanding the network of farmer's markets, we could see a further groundswell around the support for organic foods."

Click here for the complete survey results.