Interview questions for whosyourfarmer.info research project: Fall 2010 20101023

Date of interview: _______________________ Location of interview:________________________

Aloha! I am a student in the Communication Department at the University of Hawaii-Hilo. I am doing an independent study, researching numerous farmers growing/raising food in East Hawaii County and asking them what challenges they experience as farmers and as sellers of their products at open markets. In the Spring semester of 2010, I created my web blog whosyourfarmer.info to be interactive with anyone interested in the dialog of raising food, raising our awareness of farmers and raising communication between farmers and food consumers.

Thank you for taking the time to be interviewed!

Please let me know the following before we begin the interview :

1.Do you wish for this interview to remain anonymous?

2. If the answer to question #1 is no, then would you agree to any of the following? :

a) Agree to be interviewed with or without an audio recorder:
print name_________________________________
signature___________________________________
dated______________________________________

b) Agree to be interviewed with or without a photo taken:
print name_________________________________
signature___________________________________
dated______________________________________

c) Agree to have ____________photo __________audio posted on my blog:
print name_________________________________
signature___________________________________
dated______________________________________

3. What kinds of food crops do you grow for the farmers markets ?
___ fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts

___dairy (milk, eggs, cheese)

___prepared food (cooked food, honey, jams etc.)

___other________________________________

4. When you sell food, at farmers markets, in your observation, rate what your customers care about .

[ On a scale of 0 to 5 ( 5 being the most important)]

a) how the food looks 0 1 2 3 4 5

b) where the food is grown 0 1 2 3 4 5

c) how the food is grown 0 1 2 3 4 5

d) who grows the food 0 1 2 3 4 5

e) price of the food 0 1 2 3 4 5

f) freshness of the food 0 1 2 3 4 5

5.What methods of communication do you use and find effective in getting information to your customers about the food you sell at the farmers markets?

(ex. talking, signs – with general information, labels – detailed information, other methods of periodic advertizing)

6.In your observation, what questions do your customers ask the most about your products?

7.From what area do you consider ‘ locally grown ‘ food to come from? [ Mark one ]

___ grown in the district

___ grown in the county

___ grown in the state

___ grown in the country

8.What is your ‘definition of a farmer’ ? What motivated you to become a farmer?

9. Is your farm a family business? If yes, who in the family, is involved in your farming operation?

10. Are you a full time farmer?
If not, approximately what percentage of your total work week is devoted to farming and selling
your products at farmers markets?

11.What government agencies or other groups have you found to be helpful and supportive in your farming experience and why?

12. What aspects of farming would you advise someone to consider, who is interested in becoming a farmer?

13. Demographics of person interviewed : [ please circle one in each section of a, b ,c]

a) gender : _____ female _____ male

b) age _____(18-30) _____(31-40 ) _____ (41-50 ) _____ (51-62) _____(63-70)____(71 +)

c) household income _____ (up to $30,000) _____ ($30,000 to $60.000) _____ ( $60,000 to $ 80,000)

_____ ($80,000 plus)

d) race [choose one or more]:
_____ American Indian or Alaskan native/ __ Asian/ ___ Black or African American /___Native Hawaiian/ __Pacific Islander/ __ White / __ Other

e).zip code ____________________

I appreciate your interest in my research project.
You can read more about it on my web blog : whosyourfarmer.info

Thank you!

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