GETTY A quarter of Britons do not know where bacon comes from

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And one in five are so out-of-touch with the production of their food they do not realise the eggs they eat come from chickens. Meanwhile, 26 per cent are unaware milk comes from dairy cows - with many instead believing it comes from a beef herd. Half of us believe we should produce more of our own food in the UK, but completely underestimate how much is produced here.

It's reassuring that people want to support British farmers Michael Sly

Indeed, 95 per cent have no idea how much is already farmed in Britain. The research by sustainable agriculture organisation LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) reveals we are eager to support British farming - but know very little about food production. While, on average, people think we only produce 35 per cent of our own food in this country, it is actually around 60 per cent. More than a quarter say they buy more British food than five years ago and are happy to pay extra for home-grown produce.

GETTY Nearly 22 per cent of those surveyed did not realise eggs come from chickens

Indeed, the country of origin (42 per cent) is the third biggest factor influencing our fresh food choices in the supermarket, with only price (74 per cent) and special offers (51 per cent) proving more influential. The study, carried out ahead of this weekend's Open Farm Sunday - where farms across the country will open their gates to the public - reveals a quarter have never even visited a farm. Worryingly, the research also demonstrates many adults struggle with aspects of basic food knowledge. A shocking 23 per cent don't know bacon comes from pigs, and 26 per cent are unaware milk came from a dairy cow. Surprisingly, 22 per cent don't realise eggs come from chickens. More than half don't know butter comes from a dairy cow - and a third didn't connect steak with beef cattle. A confused four per cent instead thought steak came from pigs. Many also struggle to get their facts straight about crops grown in the UK.

GETTY The study found that 26 per cent of Britons don't know milk comes from dairy cows

Only one in five could identify a picture of barley as an ingredient of beer. Additionally, 16 per cent didn't know crops used for breakfast cereals - such as oats, wheat and barley - are grown in this country. And two fifths are unaware mustard seed is cultivated on British farms.

GETTY Almost a quarter of British citizens have never visited a farm

Annabel Shackleton, Open Farm Sunday Manager at LEAF said: "Open Farm Sunday is the ideal opportunity for people of all ages to visit a farm and discover more about the world of farming and the story behind their food. "By spending time on a farm, talking to farmers and to many other professionals involved in the industry - from agronomists to vets - the day offers a unique insight into this vital industry and helps people value the work farmers do and the food they eat." Farmer Michael Sly, 47, of MHS Farms, Thorney, Cambridgeshire, who is participating in this weekend's Open Farm Sunday, said: "It's reassuring that people want to support British farmers and are even willing to pay more to do so.

Why is organic best? Tue, May 3, 2016 We take a look at the benefits of organic farming Play slideshow Getty Images/Cultura RF 1 of 19 The best type of eggs come from free-range chickens. They roam freely and have a natural diet, meaning their eggs and meat are of a higher nutrional content