Applied Economics Research

This fact sheet summarizes USU research on western U.S. consumers who purchase mild salsa, highlighting their demographics, food habits, and preferences. Target consumers are middle-aged, highly educated, engaged in local food systems, and willing to pay ...

Highlighting consumer preferences and willingness to pay for specialty-labeled processed foods, including organic, local, grass-fed, and non-GMO products. Survey results show strong consumer value for health, safety, freshness, and transparency, especiall...

This peer-reviewed fact sheet from Utah State University Extension explores consumer preferences and willingness to pay for specialty-labeled strawberries, such as locally grown and certified organic. The study highlights that consumers familiar with thes...

This study explores consumer preferences and purchasing behaviors for strawberries in Utah, revealing that price, taste, and freshness are the most valued factors. Results suggest strong market potential for locally grown strawberries, especially through ...

This fact sheet from Utah State University Extension summarizes a 2024 study on consumer preferences for locally grown cut flowers at farmers markets in northern Utah. Findings highlight strong consumer interest in locally sourced, high-quality, and susta...

This website provides a detailed analysis of the target consumers for locally grown fruits in Utah, emphasizing demographic differences, purchasing patterns, and lifestyle attitudes of those willing to pay premiums for locally sourced produce. It also off...

This website provides an analysis of the target consumers for organically grown fruits in Utah, focusing on demographic characteristics, purchasing behaviors, and attitudes of consumers willing to pay premiums for organic produce. It also offers insights ...

Americans purchase 10 million cut flowers daily, spending close to $7 billion annually (Tegethoff, 2023). The majority (80%) of the flowers sold in the U.S. are grown internationally in climate-optimal countries, such as Ecuador, Columbia, and Kenya (Li, ...

This fact sheet discusses the results of a study conducted in early 2024 with wholesale flower buyers operating in the Intermountain West. The study was intended to provide local cut flower growers with pertinent information on wholesale buyer prefere

This fact sheet provides an overview of the study results by discussing grower motivations for adopting organic methods, as well as grower concerns regarding organic production.

Given all the potential health benefits of consuming fresh produce, especially fruits, why are Americans not eating enough fruit? Previous studies show that many factors influence fruit consumption, including demographics, socioeconomic status, household ...

This fact sheet discusses the state of the fruit industry in Utah, its impact on the Utah economy, as well as current challenges the fruit industry faces and opportunities for fruit growers moving forward. These challenges and opportunities underscore the...

This fact sheet, the second in a two-part series, outlines a study conducted in January 2024 with florists operating in the Intermountain West. It provides local cut flower growers with pertinent information on florist preferences for sourcing flowers loc...

Understanding consumer attitudes and preferences for specialty labeled foods is a popular area of study. Insights derived from these studies are valuable for producers and marketers to assess whether their products meet consumer needs and which certificat...

Fruit growers throughout Utah manage operations of varying sizes and sell their fruit products fresh or processed through various direct-to-consumer and wholesale markets. To better understand the fruit products under production and current marketing meth...

In this fact sheet, we discuss the results of a 2023 study examining Utah consumer perceptions and preferences for Utah fresh and packaged fruit products. Study data were collected online via a Qualtrics survey, and 384 Utah adults completed the survey. U...

This fact sheet summarizes the findings of a survey conducted with bakery owners and managers to assess their organic wheat flour quality and sourcing needs.

This fact sheet summarizes the findings of a survey conducted with wheat buyers (millers and distributors) to assess their organic wheat quality and sourcing needs. We examine the importance of various quality measures in miller and distributor decisions ...

This fact sheet provides an overview of the study results by discussing grower motivations for adopting organic methods, as well as grower concerns regarding organic production.

This fact sheet provides an overview of the study results and compares and contrasts these results with the results of other studies. It also provides suggestions for outreach to current and potential organic wheat growers.

This Extension fact sheet discusses the results of an online survey conducted in 2017 across 16 western states via Qualtrics. Just over one thousand residents responded to the survey.

The objective of this fact sheet is to illustrate the economic impacts of drought on agriculture and the economy of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Utah. Utah is the second driest state in the United States, with average yearly precipitation of 13.34 ...

This fact sheet will illustrate the potential economic impacts of drought on agriculture and reservation economies in New Mexico. New Mexico is the fifth driest state in the United States, with average yearly precipitation of 13.38 inches, and 69% of the ...

This fact sheet, the first in a series of three, examines the preferred drought management strategies of fresh produce growers and how their preferences change depending on drought severity and expected yields. Severe drought in fresh produce production c...

The objective of this fact sheet is to illustrate the economic impacts of drought on agriculture and reservation economies in Arizona. Arizona is the fourth driest state in the United States, with an average yearly precipitation of 11.24 inches, and 78% o...

The objective of this fact sheet is to illustrate the economic impacts of drought on agriculture and reservation economies in Nevada. Nevada is the driest state in the United States, with an average yearly precipitation of 9.96 inches, and 71% of the stat...

This fact sheet, the third in a series of three, examines the preferred drought management strategies of hay and forage growers and how their preferences change depending on drought severity and expected yields. Severe drought in forage production causes ...

This fact sheet, the second in a series of three, examines livestock producer preferred drought management strategies and how producer preferences change depending on drought severity and expected grazing efficiency.

This fact sheet is the second in a series of three that provide an overview of drought-tolerant crops, grasses, and native plants, which may assist in maintaining agricultural production for food and feed and sustain grasslands and rangelands in the arid ...

This fact sheet is the first in a series of three that provide an overview of drought-tolerant crops, grasses, and native plants, which may assist in maintaining agricultural production for food and feed and sustain grasslands and rangelands in the arid S...

In this fact sheet, we discuss how consumer taste beliefs related to organic specialty baked goods differ from their taste beliefs for conventional specialty baked goods, and whether this difference affects the amount consumers are willing to pay for orga...

This fact sheet is the third in a series of three that provide an overview of drought-tolerant crops, grasses, and native plants, which may assist in maintaining agricultural production for food, feed, and cosmetics and sustain grasslands and rangelands i...

loans. This fact sheet discusses the process and tools available for estimated market size, as well as assessing profitable pricing, along with examples and pricing resources for fresh produce and food products.

Due to increased consumer demand for locally produced and organic produce, many consumers are willing to pay a premium for fresh, high-quality, local produce, creating profit opportunities for growers who direct market profits. Also, direct markets allow ...

This fact sheet provides information on how to define a target market for a product or service, followed by methods for collecting data on targeted consumer groups.

This fact sheet focuses primarily on farmers’ market price comparisons to assist fresh produce growers in determining which produce varieties have the highest premiums, the range of prices they can expect, and any considerations for production method, sea...

In this fact sheet, we discuss how consumer taste beliefs related to organic specialty baked goods differ from their taste beliefs for conventional specialty baked goods, and whether this difference affects the amount consumers are willing to pay for orga...

This fact sheet discusses the impact of the expanding food tourism and local food movements on the demand for locally-produced goods, how farms shops can cater to that demand, the advantages and disadvantages of farms shops for both growers and consumers,...

In this fact sheet, we compare consumer taste ratings for organic and conventional specialty bakery products and analyze what factors explain the differences.

In this fact sheet, we examine differences in sociodemographics and lifestyle choices between those who view organic as important when purchasing specialty bakery products and those who don’t, with the aim to identify a target market of consumers who pref...

For generations, flowers have been used to show affection and appreciation, given as gifts, and used for decoration or ornamentation (Oppenheim, 1996). Defined as flowers, blooms, or buds separated from their bearing plant that may be sold as single stems...

Cut flower production is a small, rapidly growing, and dynamic industry in Utah. Other states are also experiencing tremendous growth and looking to Utah, particularly Utah State University (USU) Extension programs, to meet grower needs.

Cut flowers may be sold in large quantities to wholesale distributors or florists, or they may be sold directly to consumers through farmers markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs or subscription services, or “U-pick” operations.

Flowers are most often purchased for personal use, with interior home decoration as the primary reason for cut flower sales in the United States (PR Newswire, 2022; Yue & Hall, 2010). However, gift use is also a significant reason for flower sales, with A...

This fact sheet provides an overview of different livestock protection insurance contracts that are available for feeder cattle and how to decide which one is best for you.

This fact sheet provides an overview of different livestock protection insurance contracts that are available for fed cattle and how to decide which one is best for you.

This fact sheet provides an overview of different livestock protection insurance contracts that are available for swine and how to decide which one is best for you.

This fact sheet provides an overview of frequently asked questions regarding livestock risk protection insurance.

This fact sheet provides an overview of the socio-demographics, attitudes, and preferences of organic wheat consumers in the Western U.S. It discusses information on what food attributes these consumers value most along with their lifestyle and shopping h...

This Extension fact sheet provides an overview of the premiums consumers in the Western U.S. are willing to pay for organic wheat products, as well as their knowledge of organic production methods, and opinions and attitudes toward organic food products i...

In this fact sheet, we examine how consumers, who choose to avoid wheat/gluten bakery products for a variety of reasons, respond to organic wheat products relative to those who do not limit their wheat/gluten consumption, and whether organic wheat product...

This fact sheet summarizes a study conducted on consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for organic and non-GMO labels alone and in combination for bread and cookies, and how consumer knowledge that organic is non-GMO and overall organic knowledge of organic st...

This fact sheet provides a comparison of fresh produce prices at farmers’ markets and grocery stores in Utah. It also discusses the price impacts for various item characteristics, including variety, market location, seasonality, and production methods (Sa...

This article summarizes a 2024 Utah State University study examining processed food preferences and purchasing behaviors among 1,282 consumers across the western United States. Findings highlight key values such as taste, price, product quality, and trust...