Understanding Consumer Adaptations in Response to COVID-19: A Rural Canadian Perspective

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Food system disruptions impact consumer purchasing patterns. A cross-sectional survey to determine priorities and factors influencing shopping and food procurement habits due to COVID-19 was promoted through social media. We recruited a convenience sample (n = 334) using Qualtrics in Nova Scotia, Canada. Descriptive statistics described age, gender, and income levels. Ordinal regression assessed predictors of shopping pre-pandemic. Likert scales were analyzed using the related samples marginal homogeneity test. Chi-squared tested relationships between income and the amount spent on food. Consumers demonstrated their willingness to support local producers and may be key players in constructing resilient local food systems.