Market trends and consumer demand for fresh berries

Abstract

Abstract:We present an analysis of markets for fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries in the United States during [2008][2009][2010][2011]. We use weekly panel data covering supermarket purchases in 52 cities. The primary goal is to estimate demand elasticities for fresh berries and thereby provide a better understanding of consumer behaviour in response to price changes and the nature of competition among these crops. We estimate fixed and random effects models for double log demand equations and a complete demand system, the Almost Ideal Demand System. The latter specification can be used to estimate demand relationships that conform to utility maximising behaviour. The elasticity estimates are very robust across the different specifications and estimation methods. This increases confidence in our findings and provides some assurance that choice of functional form or estimation method is not driving our results. We find that retail demands for all berry crops are in the elastic range and that the different berries are substitutes for one another. The demand for strawberries was the least elastic with an own price elasticity of -1.26 and blackberries were the most elastic with a demand elasticity of -1.88. Blackberry demand was also the most responsive to the prices of competing berry crops. The study provides clearer insight into markets for berries in the United States. In addition, it fills a gap in the present lack of up-to-date consumer demand elasticities for these crops and will be useful for growers, decision makers and consumers.

Cost–benefit analysis of controlling the spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura)) spread and infestation of soft fruits in Trentino, Northern Italy

“…This assumption is supported mainly by recent estimates of own-price elasticities of retail demand for fresh soft fruit berries in the USA, ranging from -1.26 for strawberries to -1.88 for blackberries, and of cross-price elasticities among the four crops, which are all positive and thus indicate that these crops are substitutes in demand. 32 Moreover, notwithstanding the large production share of the province, expert industry operators expect that a relevant decrease in production in Trentino, due to the effect of the pest, could easily be substituted, not only by other suppliers of the Italian market (mostly in Southern Italy), but also from countries like Spain, Germany and Poland. 26…”

Exploring Perceptions of Raspberries and Blueberries by Italian Consumers

“…Sobeková et al [51] reported an elasticity range of 1.25-1.88 for berry fruits, arguing that price was not a major driver in the choice of individual purchases, as purchase of berries is often sporadic and in small quantities. Furthermore, they determined that price did not have a significant impact on the level of household spending.…”

A model of crop diversification under labor shocks

“…We selected the academic papers based on relevance, the Production cost not incl. harvest 10,078 (USD/acre) [37] Labor cost 2408 (USD/acre) [37,38] Labor requirement 29 (people/100 acre) [38,39] Strawberries market prices -Available for download at [30] Elasticity -0.66 [40] Production cost not incl. harvest 12,305 (USD/acre) [33] Labor cost 7788 (USD/acre) [33] Labor requirement 95 (people/100 acre) [39] https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229774.t001…”