Consumer Willingness to Pay and Marketing Opportunities for "Quality Guaranteed Tree-Ripened Peaches" in New York State

This study identifies consumer characteristics associated with willingness to pay a higher price for quality guaranteed tree-ripened peaches, with a focus on evaluating factors important to consumers when making decisions to purchase tree-ripened peaches. Telephone interviews were conducted with consumers in New York State in summer, 2002. Seventy-eight percent of the 258 survey respondents reported that they were willing to pay a higher price. A logistical regression model of willingness to pay was estimated. The empirical results indicated that willingness to pay was positively affected by the existence of previous experiences in purchasing tree-ripened peaches and by consumer dissatisfaction with peaches consumed in the past. An analysis of consumer experiences and consumer dissatisfaction showed that consumers in the two identified segments had mutually exclusive characteristics that present marketing opportunities for high quality New York-grown peaches.Consumer/Household Economics,

Analysis of Papilloma Virus E1 Protein: Creation of Stable Cell Lines to Generate Sufficient Amounts of Viral E1

The immediate objective of our research aims to create stable cell lines to generate sufficient amounts of viral E1. The pMSG vector was chosen for its ability to amplify gene expression by way of hormonal or chemical induction, and for its ability to be selected under ampicillin medium by way of the Amp gene. pMSG was ligated with E1 insert in two fashions, blunt or modified ends. Inserts were created by way of digesting them with BamH1. The inserts were blunted and ligated with a blunt ended pMSG, or blunted, modified, digested with Sal 1 and then ligated with Sal 1 digested pMSG. Recombinants were transformed in E. coli cells, plated in ampicillin medium, and analyzed by way of electrophoresis. When analyzing the blunt ended technique, bacterial contamination was depicted by faint bands in the upper region of the gel. Products could not be analyzed from the Sal 1 ligated technique, due to complications and errors in plating. reating sufficient amounts of E1 protein by way of using blunt and modified ends to form recombinants proved difficult, yielding no desired products. Therefore, there must be further research to find a protocol to generate sufficient amounts of E1 from mammalian cell lines

The comparative advantage of selected long-term crops in Lesotho

This paper evaluates the comparative economic advantage (CEA) of irrigated long-term crops (cherries, peaches, apples and asparagus) in the four agro-ecological zones of Lesotho based on analyses of profitability coefficients and domestic resource costs. The analysis was carried out using the net present value (NPV) approach. The CEA analysis yielded higher private returns relative to economic returns in the lowlands, Foothills, the Senqu River Valley and the Mountains of Lesotho for all the crops examined. In the lowlands zone all products have a RCR of lower than one indicating a comparative advantage. In the Foothills only apples and peaches were investigated, and both show a comparative advantage of equal strength. In the Senqu River Valley the result for apples and peaches are mixed, i.e. apples show a comparative advantage, whilst peaches show a comparative disadvantage. In the Mountain zone only apples have a comparative advantage. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted related to exchange rate changes, land and water prices, and threshold prices.Crop Production/Industries,

MaxDiff approaches for PDO “Calanda” peaches (Spain)

Peaches with PDO Calanda are one of the 20 fruits with PDO existing in Spain. The aim of this work is to understand how consumers make their choices based on the most important peaches’ attributes and levels. In this work, 4 attributes with 3 levels in each attribute have been considered (price: 1.5 €/kg, 2.5 €/kg and 3.5 €/kg; origin: PDO Calanda, non PDO Calanda and non Calanda; packaging: bulk, conventional packaging and active packaging; and fruit size: small, medium and big). Four Best-Worst (BW) exploded models have been utilised, two of them with scale factors. All those models have been compared to two traditional Discrete Choice (DC) models. Results show that traditional DC models have better performance than the other models and the best model is when consumers select the best option. Within the exploded models, the choice sequence decisions starting from worst options are better than those which start from best option. Consumers prefer PDO Calanda peaches over other types and the positive difference in their Willingness to Pay (WTP) are more or less the same between peaches from Calanda with PDO and without PDO as it is between the latter and peaches coming from other origins.best-worst, exploding models, consumer behavior, choice experiment, fruit quality., Agricultural and Food Policy,

Fruit Crops: Inventory, Value, and Disposition, Illinois, 1965-69

Production, disposition, and value of watermelons, apples, and peaches, 1965-69.published or submitted for publicationnot peer reviewe

Seismic Full-Waveform Inversion of 3D Field Data – From the Near Surface to the Reservoir

The theory of FWI is well-established. However its practical application to 3D seismic datasets is still a subject of intense research. This technique has shown spectacular results in quantitatively extracting P-wave velocities in the shallow near surface at depths of less than 1 km, using wide-angle OBC datasets. This study deals with establishing a robust methodology for the application of FWI that can be routinely applied to analogous field datasets, both in the shallow near surface and at deeper reservoir depths. A practical strategy for anisotropic 3D acoustic FWI was developed and implemented. The stratergy is tested on a series of 3D datasets: (1) a synthetic Marmousi dataset, (2) an OBC field data and (3) a streamer data. A 3D synthetic Marmousi data is used to compare FWI implementations in both the time domain and the frequency domain. In both domains, it was possible to recover an almost ‘perfect’ model with complete data coverage, no noise, and few iterations. Both approaches were useful and competitive, and ideally both should be available within a comprehensive suite of inversion tools. The anisotropic time-domain FWI strategy was successfully implemented to complex OBC field data set with long offsets, full-azimuthal coverage and low frequencies. The FWI quantitatively recovered p-wave velocities in the shallow near surface, at intermediate depths where the sediments are gas bearing, and at deeper reservoir depths. The velocities are indeed realistic and are consistent with an independent reflection PSDM volume, well data and pressure data. The synthetic FWI data better match the field data, with the phase residuals between the two datasets significantly reduced to low values. The gathers are flatter and the depth-migrated images are more resolved and focused. The strategy was also successfully implemented to complex streamer field data set with short offsets, narrow-azimuthal coverage and reduced signal at the low frequencies. The FWI quantitatively recovered P-wave velocities down to depths of 750 m. A complex series of high and low velocity channels are recovered. These are consistent with an independent reflection PSTM volume. The synthetic FWI data better match the field data, with the phase residuals between the two datasets significantly reduced to low values. The depth-migrated images are more resolved and focused in the shallow section. Open Acces

Peach Fruit Quality Analysis in Relation to Organic and Conventional Cultivation Techniques

The USA is the third major world producer of peaches but consumption has decreased over the last two decades. Consumers have cited mealy texture, fruit browning and lack of sweetness as some undesirable characteristics in peaches, which may be related to the decline. The focus of this study was to evaluate the effect of farm management practices on fruit quality. Physical parameters (color, firmness and size), volatiles and metabolite data was collected.Sensory evaluation indicated transitional organic peaches were liked the best and organically grown peaches were least liked. All the treatments were significantly different from each other and consumers preferred the aroma of conventionally grown peaches. Firmness and sugar content of the treatments were not different from each other. The total phenolic content was found to be significantly higher in transitional organic and organic peaches compared to conventional peaches. Transitional organic peaches were more liked and organic were least liked, but the nutritional values in organic peaches can be the point of interest for the consumers

Consumer Preferences and Marketing Opportunities for Premium “Tree-Ripened Peaches” in New York State

R.B. 2004-10Fruit growers in New York State are adding alternative fruit crops to their production acreage in an effort to diversify their apple orchards. Peach (Prunus persica L.) is a major crop used for that purpose because of the collaboration between growers and the Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station to develop new varieties that possess higher eating quality and more eye-appealing characteristics for the consumer market and because they are suitable for the growing environment in New York State. The goal of this study is to explore consumer interests in New York-grown premium tree-ripened peaches and develop strategic marketing recommendations on how the New York stone fruit industry can expand markets for these peaches. This research is divided into two parts: a qualitative study (focus group discussion) and a quantitative study (consumer phone survey). The purpose of the focus groups was to obtain in depth responses from consumers on their attitudes and purchase behaviors for fruit, peaches and New York-grown premium tree-ripened peaches. The consumer phone survey was designed to verify results from the focus group discussion among the general population and to determine consumers’ interests and willingness to pay a higher price for “quality-guaranteed premium treeripened peaches.” The focus groups and consumer phone surveys show that consumers, especially frequent fruit shoppers, are generally very interested in good quality peaches as well as “quality-guaranteed premium tree-ripened peaches”. Although it is usually recognized that good quality tree-ripened peaches are available at farm stands or farmers’ markets, they appear to be less available in the supermarkets where respondents in this study typically shop. This presents an opportunity for New York stone fruit growers to supply good and consistent quality fresh peaches through the supermarket channel. Peaches are prized for their juiciness, sweetness, and good flavor. However, consumers are frustrated by the difficulty they perceive in selecting peaches at the proper ripening stage to get the qualities they like. Quality and consistency of the product are key factors for consumer satisfaction, and a high level of satisfaction, in turn, increases consumer demand and repeat purchases for fresh peaches. If quality and consistency exist, consumers seem to be willing to pay higher prices and buy fewer peaches in order to get the product they like. Most consumers in this study recognized New York State as a region where peaches are grown and referred to these peaches as “local” or “homegrown.” Awareness of these shoppers about peaches grown in New York and their “local” nature clearly constitutes an advantage to build on when marketing New York-grown peaches. However, there are challenges when designing a marketing program to receive a premium price for high quality New York-grown tree-ripened peaches. Many consumers could not correctly identify tree-ripened peaches, and some expected a lower price for locally grown products. Moreover, some focus group participants viewed California peaches as larger and Pennsylvania peaches as more flavorful and predictable than New York peaches. iii Therefore, when promoting “quality-guaranteed New York-grown premium tree-ripened peaches” through the supermarkets channel, a good position statement, innovative packaging, and clear labeling at the point of purchase will be the major means of informing and influencing a potential buyer. It should emphasize high quality and be used as boldly and as creatively as possible to justify the higher price and stimulate sales for the “New York-grown qualityguaranteed premium tree-ripened peaches”. Moreover, given the narrow marketing window when fresh New York peaches are available and the excitement the arrival of the peach season appears to generate, both run-of-the-crop and premium varieties can benefit from intensive promotion of their arrival. Results from this study show that demographic factors generally do not affect consumer behavior in terms of purchasing peaches or tree-ripened peaches. Therefore, promotional programs targeting specific consumer groups are not necessary. Generating consumer satisfaction through good and consistent quality products is the key to successfully marketing “New York-grown quality-guaranteed premium tree-ripened peaches.

Evaluation of Shelf-Life Improvements of Wet Pack Clingstone Peaches Designed for Military Operation Rations by Addition of Calcium Salts

When available, wet pack peaches are produced by repackaging sliced and/or diced canned clingstone peaches into a 5-ounce MRE pouch, followed by a thermal process. In this study, wet pack diced peaches were processed in 5-ounce pouches using canned, fresh, and frozen peaches as the raw material. Calcium chloride was added at 0.0 or 0.5% (w/w) to the pouches. The pouches were then stored at 37°C for six months or 50°C for six weeks. The peaches were evaluated for texture, drained weight, pH, brix and sensory evaluations.The canned peaches were not significantly different from wet pack peaches processed using frozen and fresh peaches for overall liking when stored at 37°C for six months. Based on the inability of panelists to differentiate between peach types for overall liking, this study suggests that producers should continue to use canned clingstone peaches as the peach source for wet pack peaches.When calcium chloride was applied to wet pack peaches before thermal processing at 0.5% w/w, a significant increase was seen in the firmness of wet pack peaches after processing. Peaches treated with calcium chloride did not lose firmness as quickly when stored at 50°C for six weeks, but showed no difference in firmness loss rates when stored at 37°C for six months. Sensory analysis of the samples stored at 37°C for six months showed an improvement in firmness scores but a drastic decline in overall acceptance due to the impact of flavor scores.viMultiple levels of calcium chloride showed increased firming effects as the percentage of calcium chloride increased, with negative effects on flavor as the percentage increased. Flavor was not significantly affected by calcium chloride at 0.125% in sensory analysis. This study concludes that to optimize flavor and firmness of wet pack peaches, calcium chloride should only be added at a level up to 0.125%(w/w) that will result in a final pH ≥3.85

Predicting pitting damage during processing in California clingstone peaches using color and firmness measurements

Nondestructive and destructive measures of color and firmness were studied to determine the feasibility of predicting the level of damage to clingstone peaches during mechanical pitting. Nondestructive and destructive measures of firmness were equally variable when measuring the firmness at three equatorial cheek locations (coefficient of variation of about 17%), both had inverse relationships with the level of pitting damage (r2 ranged from 0.70 to 0.83), and could classify peaches into two categories (those subject to and those not subject to pitting damage) with classification accuracies of 75.2% and 81.7%, respectively. Destructive firmness was not a good predictor of nondestructive firmness in clingstone peaches. Skin color was not a good predictor of flesh color in clingstone peaches, and flesh color was not a good predictor of potential for damage to clingstone peaches during mechanical pitting