Contracting directly between produce shippers and retailers is growing in importance. Retailers seek to obtain reliable supplies, while reducing their reliance on recurring market transactions. Producers seek stable prices and market access. These private transactions diminish spot market...

This study applies a latent class estimation technique to a panel of A.C. Nielsen fruit-consuming households to define price, advertising, and promotion responsiveness segments. Ex post analysis of these segments finds significant demographic differences among them, suggesting that...

The Fugi apple variety is relatively new in the U.S. As a new product, questions concern the relative impact of consumer learning by experience, by variety-specific promotion, or by generic apple promotion. Estimates show each to have a positive impact. Changes in producer surplus provide a...

Previous studies find that private labels increase retailers' bargaining power with manufacturers and allow retailers to price discriminate. We use a spatial discrete choice model to show that retailers also use store brands to create market power through store differentiation, but not as a...

Invasive insect species cause billions of dollars of direct and indirect damage to U.S. crops each year. The market for insuring insect damage is, however, far from complete. The objective of this study is to design and value insect derivatives, or "bug options," which would offer growers a...

A structural latent variable model tests the role quality and information play in explaining observed differences in Canadian and U.S. produce consumption (5.0 vs. 3.5 servings/day). Dietary health information is significant in expanding demands. Quality promotes fruit consumption in Canada,...

As US investment in food processors abroad grows, understanding the factors causing this growth is critical to US trade and investment policy. This study uses an ownership / location / internalization approach in finding market size and trade openness important determinants of US foreign direct...

Existing empirical studies do not provide a unifying explanation for retail price fixity. However, economic hysteresis, or the persistence of an economic phenomenon after its initial cause has disappeared, offers a general explanation. Estimates of an empirical model of retail-price hysteresis...

We compare the effect of anonymous social network ratings (Yelp.com) and peer group recommendations on restaurant demand. We conduct a two stage choice experiment and combine it with online social network reviews from Yelp.com and find that peers have a stronger impact on restaurant demand than...