ALL FOR EFFICIENCY AND EFFICIENCY FOR ALL -- DISPELLING MYTHS ABOUT "COSTLY" NEW QUALITY ATTRIBUTES IN FOOD PRODUCTS

As new quality attributes for food products emerge, questions arise about the relative "efficiencies" of alternative market responses to these changes. This paper discusses two closely related issues: different perspectives about "efficiency" found in the literature, and the potential responses to the introduction of new food product attributes by individual firms. Comparing different understandings of "efficiency" and analyzing different firm-level market responses lead to conclusions about the use of "efficiency" for prescriptive decisions by firms and value-laden recommendations by economists.Marketing,

QUALITY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE IN THE FRESH PRODUCE SECTOR: A CASE STUDY OF EUROPEAN RETAILERS

Quality and quality assurance are among the most critical issues facing the fresh produce industry. This paper shows that while quality is widely noted to be an important concept, it is not clearly defined in the literature. Several definitions of quality are presented. The terminology associated with quality assurance is analyzed. An array of quality assurance systems used in the European fresh product sector are presented. Conclusions are drawn that while fresh produce quality will always be a factor retailers use to compete for consumers, there is evidence of industry consensus on some quality attributes, particularly, safety, environmental, and social attributes.Marketing,

ALL FOR EFFICIENCY AND EFFICIENCY FOR ALL -- DISPELLING MYTHS ABOUT "COSTLY" NEW QUALITY ATTRIBUTES IN FOOD PRODUCTS

As new quality attributes for food products emerge, questions arise about the relative "efficiencies" of alternative market responses to these changes. This paper discusses two closely related issues: different perspectives about "efficiency" found in the literature, and the potential responses to the introduction of new food product attributes by individual firms. Comparing different understandings of "efficiency" and analyzing different firm-level market responses lead to conclusions about the use of "efficiency" for prescriptive decisions by firms and value-laden recommendations by economists

QUALITY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE IN THE FRESH PRODUCE SECTOR: A CASE STUDY OF EUROPEAN RETAILERS

Quality and quality assurance are among the most critical issues facing the fresh produce industry. This paper shows that while quality is widely noted to be an important concept, it is not clearly defined in the literature. Several definitions of quality are presented. The terminology associated with quality assurance is analyzed. An array of quality assurance systems used in the European fresh product sector are presented. Conclusions are drawn that while fresh produce quality will always be a factor retailers use to compete for consumers, there is evidence of industry consensus on some quality attributes, particularly, safety, environmental, and social attributes