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More Albertans than ever are shopping at farmers’ markets, roadside stands and restaurants serving food raised in the province as booming numbers of people embrace the “eat local” philosophy.

Last year, consumers spent more than $1.5 billion at these locations, up nearly $300 million or almost 25 per cent from 2012, according to local food demand survey figures released Thursday by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

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The popularity of farmers’ markets is particularly striking. The estimated value of purchases in 2016 more than tripled to $763 million from $233 million when the first survey was done in 2004.

“I think this will continue to grow. The demand is there. It’s not a fad — people want local food,” said Eileen Kotowich, a farmers’ market specialist with Alberta Agriculture.

“While we haven’t seen a huge increase from 2012 to 2016, I think the economy has had a huge impact on that. There’s a perception that farmers’ markets are more expensive than grocery stores, which isn’t necessarily true … You really need to know your price points and why you’re purchasing.”

There are almost 140 markets across the province. A rising proportion of the 1.3 million households that went to one in 2016 (forking out an average $737 over the year) is going out of season.