I recently came across a survey of 500 'typical' households in the Midwest done by the University of Nebraska.  They interviewed the primary grocery shopper about her/his attitudes and opinions about locally grown and processed food, 
including meat, as well as organic and all-natural .

99% of respondants had purchased locally grown or produced food at
one time or another.  The top three reasons for purchasing local were
freshness, better taste and supporting local farmers.

The top reasons for purchasing organic or all-natural were no
chemicals/pesticides/herbicides/antibiotics, more healthy/nutritious
and because they taste better.

The top criteria for purchasing meat locally were:  Food safety,
quality of the meat, USDA inspection, tenderness and juiciness.  The
terms "grass-fed", "organic" and "free-range" were ranked last.

Although the survey was performed in 2001, the results are still
enlightening today.  Consumers find a taste difference with locally
grown food [ever compared a homegrown tomato to one from the store?]. 
Safety is a concern for meat, but USDA inspection is trusted.  Residue
are of concern to those purchasing organic.

Any speculations about how things might have changed in the 7 years
since the survey?  Sadly, I'm not sure the average consumer is any more
factually informed about those things that concern them than they were
7 years ago  [many of our readers excepted].  In fact, given the amount
of propaganda in media as these issues become marketing tools, I'm
afraid many are more misinformed than they were 7 years ago.