Understanding U.S. Consumer Demand for Milk Production Attributes

Abstract

A choice experiment was used to examine the value of various fluid milk attributes. Respondents were surveyed regarding half or whole gallon milk purchases. A split-sample design was used to examine consumer inferences regarding food safety. Willingness to pay for verification of production process attributes varied across attributes and verifying entity. Consumers were generally willing to pay substantial premiums for milk produced without the use of rbST, on local family farms, with assured food safety enhancement, and for these claims to be verified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.milk, food safety, grazing, rbST, family farm, local, willingness to pay, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,