Opportunities and Challenges for Locally Sourced Meat and Seafood: An Online Survey of U.S. Restaurant Procurers

Considering the growing consumer demand for local food products in the United States, several restaurants are seeking to include locally sourced meat and seafood products on their menus. Despite this trend, limited research has examined what factors encourage or discourage restaurants from purchasing or purchasing more local proteins. This study extends the literature by investigating what traits are desired and what barriers exist when purchasing local proteins for restaurant procurers (those tasked with purchasing ingredients), utilizing data from an online survey. The results indicate that the top three desired traits for locally raised meats (beef, pork, chicken) are naturally grown, hormone-free, and organic. The most important traits for seafood (fish, crab, shrimp, and oysters) are the different certifications (i.e., Marine Stewardship Council, state/local certification, and Aquaculture Stewardship Council). The most common barriers are inconsistent quality, high cost, limited availability, and further processing needs. Results from a logistic regression suggest that restaurants characterized by fewer seats, higher entrée prices, and longer tenure are more likely to purchase local proteins. Restaurants willing to pay more for local proteins tend to be full-service types, have fewer seats, have higher entrée prices, serve other local foods, and cater to both tourists and residents.