Purchasing Locally Produced Fresh Vegetables: National Franchise vs. Locally Owned and Operated Restaurants

The objective of this study is to examine purchasing practices of locally produced fresh vegetables among restaurants and food service institutions. The sample for the study included managers of 75 restaurants and dining centers out of a total of nearly 600 food service outlets in a mid-size metropolitan city in Midwest with a population of about 400,000. The study findings show differential preferences between national/regional chains and the local independently owned restaurants. Although managers across the board expressed willingness to buy local, actual purchasing decisions were largely driven by freshness, quality and availability. Price was not as critical a factor as others including variety and selection. The results suggest that local vegetable producers should use regularity, quality, and freshness to differentiate themselves. As a producer of small volume of fresh vegetables local farmers have much higher probability of success if they supply to locally and independently owned restaurants. These restaurants use small volume of vegetables in broader variety. Additionally, small variety growers may need to recast their business models as the industry seem to be moving towards fewer vegetables delivered round the year. These producers should consider investments in greenhouse to gain a competitive edge.local food, restaurant managers, logit, Agribusiness,

EXPLANATION OF VARIATION IN DEMAND FOR FARM CREDIT IN MISSOURI

The study analyzed the demand for farm credit in Missouri. Results suggested that financial leverage, government payments, occupation of farm operators, average farm acreages, value of land and buildings and types of farm operation had significant influence on farm credit usage. The study highlighted the potential for credit rationing.Agricultural Finance,

Perceived Risks of Agro-biotechnology and Organic Food Purchase in the United States

This study examined the role of consumers' perceived risks and benefits of agro-biotechnology in shaping the purchase pattern for organic food among US consumers. Consumers' general purchase behavior, knowledge of GM technology, and socio-demographic variables were examined in relation to their impact on organic food purchase. The sample data indicated that less than one fourth of the consumers bought organic products at least sometimes. Only 2% of the consumers bought organic food very often. Perceived risks of agro-biotechnology played a dominant role in influencing organic food purchase decisions. Consumers who were concerned about negative attributes of agro-biotechnology including long-term health and environmental hazards, inequity in the distribution of benefits from the technology, and adverse effects to small and medium farms were the potential organic food consumers. Benefits of agro-biotechnology did not play an important role in shaping the purchase pattern for organic food. Food safety was the most important consideration while making organic food purchase decisions. Importance of food safety while making food purchase decisions and consumers' trust in the ability of grocery stores to supply safe food were other important factors in determining purchase pattern for organic foods. In this study, prices of food products did not play important role in determining purchase pattern for organic foods. Growth in organic food market is largely dependent on continued reinforcement of consumers' belief that organic foods are safer than conventional foodsConsumer/Household Economics,

Self efficacy as a mediator of the relationship between dietary knowledge and behavior

This study examines the causal relationship between dietary knowledge and behavior by including self-efficacy in the models. Regression analyses supported the hypothesized relationships that self-efficacy mediates effects of dietary knowledge and social influences on dietary behavior. Self-efficacy also accounted for variance in eating behavior not explained by knowledge or demographic variables. The coefficients for the relationship between dietary behavior and knowledge decreased for each of the four dietary models when the influence of self efficacy was added. Interventions and health promotion campaigns should seek to directly address factors influencing diet related self-efficacy instead of focusing on disseminating information only.Efficacy, Mediation, Health Knowledge, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Health Economics and Policy,

UNDERSTANDING CONSUMERS' ATTITUDE TOWARD MEAT LABELS AND MEAT CONSUMPTION PATTERN

This paper addressed consumers' attitude toward meat labels and the influence of different aspects of meat labels on beef, poultry and seafood consumption using a national survey data. Nutrition and ingredient information on meat labels were positively related with attitude toward meat labels as well as meat consumption frequency.Consumer/Household Economics,

EFFECT OF GENERIC PROMOTION OF FLOWERS ON THE USE OF RETAIL FLOWER OUTLETS

AIDs demand models are used to test if the generic promotion of fresh-cut flowers influenced the market shares for florists, supermarkets, and other retail outlets. Were the generic efforts outlet neutral? Generic promotions of fresh-cut flowers is shown to be outlet neutral while the brand advertising increased florists' market share.Fresh-cut flowers, generic promotion, AIDs model, Marketing,

Household Snack-Food Purchases: Does Nutrition Matter?

Purchase patterns for two types of snack foods--pretzels and popcorn, and potato, corn, and tortilla chips--were analyzed using the data from a national survey. The study examined the effect of socio-economic and lifestyle factors including nutritional awareness and exercise habits of household respondents on snack-food purchase. A geometric-hurdle count-data model that distinguished between market-participation and purchase-frequency decisions revealed that the decision to participate in the market for snack food was separate from the purchase-level decision. Pretzels and popcorn consumers were unaffected by nutrition consideration of any kind. However, respondents who were overly concerned about desirable nutritional factors were unlikely to be buyers or potential buyers of snacks such as potato, corn, and tortilla chips.Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

SNACK PEANUTS PURCHASE PATTERN: EFFECTS OF NUTRITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS

This study examines the effect of a meal planner's nutritional awareness, exercise habits, and household socioeconomic characteristics on market participation and frequency of purchase of snack peanuts. Data are from a household survey of 2880 U.S. households collected by Gallup in 1997. Statistical tests showed that a double-hurdle or Cragg model best represented consumers' participation and purchase level decisions in the snack peanut market. The results indicated that meal planner's nutritional considerations while making food purchase decisions had little effect on the participation level decisions, but did affect purchase frequency of snack peanuts. Those household meal planners who were overly concerned about undesirable nutritional factors tended to decrease their purchase of snack peanuts. Promotion of snack peanuts on the basis of nutritional benefits through health professional and media is a useful tool to increase purchase frequency.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,