One question that probably doesn't come to most students' minds when they eat fruits or vegetables is where it was grown.

William Verbosh (junior-biological sciences) said he had never thought about where produce was grown until he started working at a grocery store.

"I thought it was grown in Brazil or something," he said.

But he soon realized that a lot of produce can be purchased from local growers -- a fact some grocers and restaurants have not really looked into.

A group of students at Penn State conducted a survey in November and found that many local restaurants would be interested in buying locally grown produce, even though currently many do not.

Adam Montri (graduate-horticulture) said although some restaurants purchase locally, many more are interested but do not know how to go about doing so.

On average, produce travels 1,300 to 1,500 miles to its consumer, said Dru Montri (graduate-horticulture), a volunteer for the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA).

In August, PASA launched Centre County's "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" campaign, she said.

"Buy Fresh, Buy Local" is a national campaign organized by FoodRoutes, a non-profit group based in Millheim, which encourages food purchasers to buy locally, Dru Montri said.

There are many advantages to buying locally, the biggest being freshness and taste, she said.

Other benefits include supporting the local economy, fostering a sense of community and protecting natural resources, Dru Montri added.

In the fall, the Montris were students in NUTR/S T S 497G (Community Food Security) taught by Dorothy Blair, an assistant professor of nutrition.

Blair said her students usually are required to work on a project related to food security, and last semester Dru Montri suggested conducting a survey of local restaurants' interest in the "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" campaign.

"The survey seemed like a really good idea," Blair said.

The purpose was to find out buyers' constraints and their perceptions of the campaign, she said.

Dru Montri said she thinks the survey was a success, even though the students did not contact as many restaurants as they had originally planned.

"Most importantly, we identified 10 key points that will make buying locally easier for restaurants in Centre County," she said, including a Web site or newsletter of local product availability, a weekly price list and alternative billing options.

All students in the class participated in the creation of the survey, and many of the questions on the survey came from in-class discussions, Dru Montri said.

The survey included questions regarding the type of food served in the restaurant, the purchasing and preparation of food, as well as three questions about the "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" campaign, Jessica Hoffman (senior-nutrition) said.

Each student in the class was assigned to one section of town and then had to interview three restaurant owners or managers in that section, Gina Riggio (senior-nutrition) said.

"Much to my surprise, the three people I spoke with were very interested in purchasing local goods," she said.

She recalled one owner saying that she felt it was important to support local producers to maintain the small-town atmosphere she enjoys so much.

Another owner said he wouldn't mind paying more for local foods if they were of good quality, Riggio said.

"The most significant lesson I learned from participating in this project is to have faith in the community," she said. "There is always support, but you'll never get anywhere without asking for it."

Daryl Sinn, purchaser for Hotel State College, said he buys locally when crops are in season. Hotel State College operates The Allen Street Grill and The Corner Room, both located at 100 W. College Ave., and Baby's, 131 S. Garner St., among other restaurants in State College.

Sinn said he does not see any downside to the "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" campaign because the freshest possible ingredients are being used and because money stays within the local economy.

Due to confidentiality, the names of the other owners and managers who participated in the survey cannot be released, Dru Montri said.

Jillian Majewski (senior-nutrition) said one reason she thinks the "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" campaign is important is that farming methods of smaller-scale farms compared with those of industrial farms are more humane. Also, small farms do not deplete minerals in the soil as much as industrial farms do, she added.

Majewski said she thinks "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" campaign is a great idea overall for everybody in the community.

"Buying locally not only benefits you personally, it benefits the community as a whole," she said.