Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T17:04:23.390Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Price Incentives for Commercial Fresh Tomatoes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2015

Ralph Bierlen
Affiliation:
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and Arkansas and Kansas State University
Orlen Grunewald
Affiliation:
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas

Abstract

Hedonic price models are estimated to determine if there are incentives to supply higher quality tomatoes. Price premiums are associated with extra-large tomatoes originating from shipping points located closer to consumption points. Price differences between mature-green and vine-ripe tomatoes are not significant. Vine-ripe tomatoes are favored by consumers in the summer while mature-green tomatoes are favored the rest of the year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture should consider changing the present tomato grading system, which is based on shape and smoothness, to include a flavor indicator based on harvest maturity.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Belsey, D. A., Kuh, E., and Welsch, R. W.. Regression Diagnostics. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1980.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brooker, J. R., Eastwood, D. B., Stout, C. L., and Orr, R. H.. “Consumers' Perceptions of Locally Grown Produce at Retail Outlets.J. Food Dist. Res. 19(February 1988):5160.Google Scholar
Brorsen, W. B., Grant, W. R., and Rister, M. E.. “A Hedonic Price Model for Rough Rice Bid/Acceptance Markets.Amer. J. Agr. Econ. 66(May 1984): 156163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brumfield, R. G., Adelaja, A. O., and Lininger, K.. “Consumer Tastes, Preferences, and Behavior in Purchasing Fresh Tomatoes.J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 113(May 1993):433438.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Consumer Price Index Detailed Report.” Department of Commerce, January 1985 - December 1991.Google Scholar
Espinosa, J. A. and Goodwin, B. K.. “Hedonic Price Estimation for Kansas Wheat Characteristics.W. J. Agr. Econ. 16(July 1991):7285.Google Scholar
Estes, E. A.Estimation of Implicit Prices For Green Pepper Quality Attributes Using an Hedonic Framework.J. Food Dist. Res. 17(February 1986):515.Google Scholar
Ethridge, D. E. and Davis, B., “Hedonic Price Estimation for Commodities: An Application to Cotton.W. J. Agr. Econ. 7(December 1982):293300.Google Scholar
Giese, K.Telephone interview with Director of Marketing, California Tomato Board, Fresno, California, January 1994.Google Scholar
Goodwin, H. L. Jr., Fuller, S. W., Capps, O. Jr., and Asgill, O. W.. “Factors Affecting Fresh Potato Price in Selected Terminal Markets.W. J. Agr. Econ. 13(December 1988):233243.Google Scholar
Griliches, S., Ed. Price Indexes and Quality Change. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1971.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
How, R. B.Marketing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1991.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jordan, J. L., Shewfelt, R. L., Prussia, S. E., and Hurst, W. C.. “Estimating Implicit Marginal Prices of Quality Characteristics of Tomatoes.S. J. Agr. Econ. 17(December 1985): 139146.Google Scholar
Ladd, G. W. and Martin, M. B.. “Prices and Demands for Input Characteristics.Amer. J. Agr. Econ. 58(February 1976):2130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ladd, G. W. and Suvannunt, V.. “A Model of Consumer Goods Characteristics.Amer. J. Agr. Econ. 58( August 1976):504510.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lancaster, K. J.A New Approach to Consumer Theory.J. Polit. Econ. 74(April 1966): 132167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nevins, D. J.Why Tomato Biotechnology? A Potential to Accelerate the Applications,” in Tomato Biotechnology, Plant Biology, Vol. 4, Nevins, D. J. and Jones, R. A., eds. New York: Alan R. Liss, Inc., 1987.Google Scholar
Rosen, S.Hedonic Prices and Implicit Markets: Product Differentiation in Pure Competition.J. Polit. Econ. 82 (January-February 1974):3455.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryall, A. L. and Lipton, W. J.. Handling, Transportation, and Storage of Fruits and Vegetables. 2nd Edition, Vol. 1 Westport, CT: AVI Publishing Co., 1979.Google Scholar
Stevens, M. A.The Future of the Field Crop.” in The Tomato Crop: A Scientific Basis for Improvement, Atherton, J. G. and Rudich, J., eds. London: Chapman and Hall, 1986.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Prices, Wholesale Chicago and New York City, F.O.B. Leading Shipping Point, Agricultural Marketing Service. Washington, D.C, various years.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Agriculture. United States Standards for Grades of Fresh Tomatoes, Agricultural Marketing Service. Washington, D.C, 1991.Google Scholar
White, H.Nonlinear Regression on Cross-Section Data.Econometrica. 48(April 1980):721746.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, W. W.Hedonic Prices in the Malting Barley Market.W. J. Agr. Econ. 9(July 1984):2940.Google Scholar