Growing and Celebrating Local Grains: How Consumers Connect with Whole and Local Grain Products in a Landscape of Emerging Local Grain Economies

Presented by: Rebekah Schulz, RD, PhD Candidate, University of Minnesota

Understanding consumer acceptance of whole grains and local grains can aid in developing products and campaigns that get consumers excited about these delicious products. This webinar will provide up to date information on the current state of American consumers’ attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions about whole grains based on recent findings from a University of Minnesota scoping review. In addition, we will explore the findings on consumer acceptance of local grain products and the food systems that produce these products — local grain networks — which are alternative systems to the commodity grain market. We will wrap up with a summary of key findings from the latest WGC 2025 Consumer Insights Survey about consumer interests, awareness, and understanding of local grains.

This webinar is being hosted in celebration of International Whole Grain Day – an annual campaign organized by the Whole Grain Initiative to help spotlight whole grains in communities around the globe.

Please note, CPEU credit is NOT available for this webinar.