Background Memo  

The Fairleigh Dickinson University poll was underwritten by the New Jersey Farm Bureau and was conducted by telephone from October 22 through October 28 using a randomly selected sample of 701 likely voters statewide aged 18 and over.  The sampling error for 701 is +/- 4 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling error. This kind of error, which cannot be measured, arises from a number of factors including, but not limited to, non-response (eligible individuals refusing to be interviewed), question wording, the order in which questions are asked, and variations among interviewers. PublicMind interviews are conducted by TMR, Inc. of Cedar Knolls, NJ.  Professionally trained interviewers use a CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) system. Random selection is achieved through computerized random-digit dialing. This technique gives every person with a phone number (including those with unlisted numbers) an equal chance of being selected.

The questions included in this release are as follows:

Question: By the way, to the best of your knowledge, why is New Jersey called the Garden State?

Question: Compared to produce grown outside of the state, do you think the quality of locally-grown, Jersey Fresh produce is...?

• Better
• About the Same
• Not as Good

Question: And what about safety… How much confidence do you have in the safety of locally-grown Jersey Fresh produce…?

• A lot
• Some
• Just a Little
• None at All

Question: This past year, did you or someone in your household visit a New Jersey farm to:

• buy something, or pick-your-own fruits, vegetables, pumpkins, or cut a Christmas tree?
• Participate in an activity like hay-riding, corn maze, petting zoo, etc.?
• take a farm education tour?
• Have a wedding, birthday party, or other special event?
• Hunt, fish, hike, or bird watch?

see also:
Survey Analysis
Tabular Results