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Goat meat consumption has grown in recent years due to dietary and cultural changes. US demand has surpassed domestic supply, presenting an opportunity for industry expansion. This study provides valuable insights into consumer preferences for goat meat. A sample of 1,015 Floridians was randomly assigned to a control and three treatment groups that included information about the health and/or environmental benefits of goat meat. Results show a significant difference in willingness to pay for goat meat under different information treatments. Persuasive marketing campaigns can increase consumers' preferences for goat meat by raising awareness of the health and environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon labeling of forest fruit products is an important approach to guide consumers toward low-carbon consumption and achieve agricultural carbon neutrality. This study employs a choice experiment method, taking Huyou Pomelo as an example, based on survey data from 1,108 consumers in five cities: Hangzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hefei, and Beijing. This study analyzes consumers' preferences and willingness to pay for carbon-labeled Huyou Pomelo and explores their heterogeneous preferences by utilizing the Random Parameters Logit(RPL) model and the Latent Class Analysis(LCA) model. The results show that: (1) Despite the relatively low public awareness of carbon labeling, customers still have a strong willingness to purchase carbon-labeled products. (2) Consumers have an average willingness to pay 7.772 yuan/kg for carbon-labeled attributes, and a complementary relationship exists between carbon and traceability labeling. (3) Consumer age and marital status significantly influence the preferences of consumers to purchase carbon-labeled Huyou. However, no significant differences exist in purchasing intent based on gender, education level, income level, or household size. Based on the above conclusions, this study provides recommendations for Huyou producers in consumer market segmentation and for the government to improve carbon labeling-related systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate US consumers' willingness to pay for cotton apparel production and country of origin attributes. Using a choice‐based conjoint experiment and information treatments, we examine the preferences of 727 US shoppers for the attributes: cotton fiber production systems and country of manufacture of the cotton fiber. Random utility theory is the basis for the survey's responses analysis to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) values for the attributes. Choices made by consumers are modeled using a mixed logit model in WTP space estimated using simulated maximum likelihood procedures. Results show that consumers are willing to pay more for cotton apparel from the United States than apparel from other countries, and more for apparel made from fiber produced in organic systems than in conventional systems. Only some subgroups of consumers were found to be affected by exposure to an information treatment regarding potential labor exploitation in cotton farms and textile mills. [EconLit Citations: D12]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a combined sensory and discrete choice experiment study with a 100% beef burger, a plant‐based burger using pea protein, a plant‐based burger using animal‐like protein, and a blended burger with 70% beef and 30% mushroom involving US consumers. Respondents were either assigned to a blind or an informed tasting condition with information about the ingredients before tasting the burgers. Results reveal that (i) beef burgers are preferred over alternatives, (ii) consumers favor blended burgers over alternatives in the blind condition but demand decreases in the informed condition; (iii) consumers prefer the plant‐based burger with animal‐like protein over the one with pea protein. Related Content: Meet the meatless: Demand for new generation plant‐based meat alternatives [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information attributes characterize traceable agri-food. The perceived value of information attributes influences consumers' preferences for traceable agri-food, consisting of two dimensions, predictive value and confidence value. We examine heterogeneous preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) in China's traceable agri-food market. Using the choice experiments, we explore how the traceability information, certification type, region of origin, and price influence Chinese consumers' Fuji apple choices. We identify three consumer classes by a latent class model: certification-oriented class (65.8%), price-sensitive and origin-oriented class (15.0%), and no-buy class (19.2%). The results show that consumer sociodemographic characteristics, predictive value, and confidence value are the heterogeneous sources that determine their preferences for Fuji apple information attributes. Specifically, consumers' age, family income per month, and whether the family has children under 18 significantly impact the membership probability of consumers in both certification-oriented and price-sensitive and origin-oriented classes. Consumers' predicted value and confidence value significantly impact the membership probability of consumers in the certification-oriented class. In contrast, consumers' predicted value and confidence value have no significant impact on the membership probability of consumers in price-sensitive and origin-oriented class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given coronavirus 2019 (COVID‐19), we empirically investigate whether consumers are willing to pay for greater sustainability and safer working conditions in food supply chains. We elicit consumer valuation via two consumer choice survey experiments and revealed preferences using mixed Logit discrete choice models. We find that consumers have a significant positive average valuation towards sustainability, but may require an average compensation to choose products produced under safer working conditions. Policy implications suggest a market‐based potential to nudge consumer segments who desire value congruence in their diet, namely, by revealing information through labeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural activities play an important role in shaping landscape, in particular, in Lithuania, where agricultural land accounts for more than half of the surface land. These landscape services are used by people as public goods, contributing to societal welfare. The aim of this study is to assess the value of agricultural landscape, identifying consumer preferences and willingness to pay for agricultural landscape attributes using the choice experiment (CE) method. The article analyses the agricultural landscape services and attributes the condition of which depends directly on the farming systems and practices applied. Four attributes of agricultural landscape were selected for the research: (i) scenic views; (ii) variety of flora and fauna species, (iii) recreational infrastructure and services, and (iv) objects of cultural heritage. The latent class approach (LCA) was used for analysis of heterogenous preferences among the Lithuanian residents. The findings provided quantitative information related to the demand for agricultural landscape goods, identifying a particular interest for the objects of cultural heritage, in relation to which the willingness to pay is particularly high. It is necessary to understand and analyse the preferences for agricultural landscape services with the purpose of improvement of the agricultural policy measures in order to change the farmers' performance towards sustainability. The case study offers new empirical arguments for agri-environmental policy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing numbers of wild animals in Europe is leading, on the one hand, to growing problems stemming from their interaction with human activities. On the other, many European countries have still not developed national supply chains to market wild game. Instead, these supply chains could represent a win–win strategy in providing a sustainable alternative to production via intensive livestock farming and developing rural territories. Our aim was to understand consumer behaviour towards wild game meat. We conducted a choice experiment on wild boar meat on a sample of Italian consumers (625). The application of a hybrid model combining a structural equation model and a latent class analysis allowed us to identify the antecedents of attitude towards wild game meat and to analyse consumer choices by utilising attitude as an explanatory variable. The results provide useful suggestions to implement rural development policies and offer food for thought in the area of consumer behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, the market share of environmentally friendly farming (EFF) produce in Japan has witnessed relatively rapid growth. However, consumer awareness and purchasing experience of this agricultural produce are still lagging. To study how awareness of EFF produce influences consumer psychology and purchase decisions, we use ordered logistic regression and choice experiments to analyze 600 survey responses collected through online questionnaires. The results show that information from friends and family can have a positive influence on Japanese consumers' trust in EFF produce. Consumers also show a significant preference for EFF produce in the short term after receiving information about it. By setting up a control group for comparison, we find that, in addition to information, consumer education and income also positively and significantly affect the decision to purchase EFF produce. This study presents a unique perspective between information and consumer decision-making and provides targeted solutions for the promotional and marketing strategy problems faced by EFF produce sellers in Japan. We argue that strengthening regional publicity methods such as community events can enhance EFF producers' marketing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses a discrete choice experiment to examine consumers' preferences for Fuji apple product attributes and willingness to pay (WTP) estimates for consumers in six cities in China. We estimated the preference heterogeneity by linking the stated preference choice data with consumers' past experience and socioeconomic characteristics in the latent class model. The empirical results show that, first, the past experience variables are crucial in explaining consumer preferences and WTP. Second, three classes, namely, certification-oriented, price- and origin-oriented, and not interested, are identified. Furthermore, the same type of Fuji apple attribute does not appeal to every respondent. Third, our results indicate the heterogeneity of preferences across different classes of respondents, as well as differences in WTP for Fuji apples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to reveal consumer preferences towards innovative last-mile parcel delivery and more specifically unmanned aerial delivery drones, in comparison to traditional postal delivery (postie) and the recent rise of parcel lockers in Australia. The authors investigate competitive priorities and willingness to pay for key attributes of parcel delivery (mode, speed, method and time window), the role of contextual moderators such as parcel value and security and opportunities for logistics service providers in the growing e-commerce market. Design/methodology/approach: A survey involving stated choice experiments has been conducted among 709 respondents in urban Australia. The authors estimated panel error component logit models, derived consumer priorities and deployed 576 Monte Carlo simulations to forecast potential delivery mode market shares. Findings: The study results suggest that people prefer postie over drone delivery, all else equal, but that drone deliveries become competitive with large market shares if they live up to the premise that they can deliver faster and cheaper. Both drone and postie become less attractive relative to parcel lockers when there is no safe place to leave a parcel at a residence, highlighting the importance of situational context and infrastructure at the receiving end of last-mile delivery. The authors identified opportunities for chargeable add-on services, such as signature for postie and 2-h parcel deliveries for drones. Originality/value: The authors offer timely and novel insights into consumers preferences towards aerial drone parcel deliveries compared to postie and lockers. Going beyond the extant engineering/operations research literature, the authors provide a starting point and add new dimensions/moderators for last-mile parcel delivery choice analysis and empirical evidence of market potential and competitive attributes of innovative versus traditional parcel delivery alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses a discrete choice experiment to examine consumers’ preferences for Fuji apple product attributes and willingness to pay (WTP) estimates for consumers in six cities in China. We estimated the preference heterogeneity by linking the stated preference choice data with consumers’ past experience and socioeconomic characteristics in the latent class model. The empirical results show that, first, the past experience variables are crucial in explaining consumer preferences and WTP. Second, three classes, namely, certification-oriented, price- and origin-oriented, and not interested, are identified. Furthermore, the same type of Fuji apple attribute does not appeal to every respondent. Third, our results indicate the heterogeneity of preferences across different classes of respondents, as well as differences in WTP for Fuji apples.

The objective of this study was to determine which are the most relevant attributes of wine for consumers of this drink, in the region of Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Mexico. This with the purpose of providing information that may be useful to wine producers in the decisions to be made. The attributes to be evaluated were origin, variety, aging time in barrels, and price, paying special attention to the influence of the origin attribute. We used the method of choice experiments, for which 120 surveys were applied to wine consumers older than 18 years, in the municipality of Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato. Using the mixed logit model, we found that the most valued attribute was the aging time in barrels, followed by origin, and the variety at third place. The favourite product was a wine produced in Guanajuato, in 750 mL bottles, aged in wooden barrels for twelve months, Merlot variety, for which the respondents reported willingness to pay $750 MXN pesos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We elicit subjective probabilities of choice using a choice experiment designed to study preferences of German consumers for high quality Italian extra‐virgin olive oils. We develop an econometric framework to address the issues of resolvable and near‐epistemic uncertainty. Focussing on behaviourally meaningful quantities linked to changes in oil attributes, such as marginal probabilities and marginal willingness to pay, we found estimates of these quantities to be robust to both types of uncertainty from both discrete and fractional elicitation formats of the response variable. The frequency and presence of potentially near‐epistemic responses are explained by socio‐economic covariates, but their effects are not always in the same direction as in models of heteroskedastic choice, suggesting the existence of different sources. Rounding behaviour in subjective probabilities statements conforms with previous findings in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the pressing challenges to economic development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is access to electrical power. In Nigeria, there is a large gap in electricity access between rural and urban areas; only about 40% have access in rural areas as compared to almost 60% in urban areas. A potential solution is the use of off-grid solar electricity to meet their needs. This article seeks to assess the tradeoffs involved in using off-grid solar electricity from the perspective of Nigerian households. Given their generally low income levels, the research focuses on the lower end of the market for off-grid solar electricity: solar chargers. It uses choice experiments to measure households' preferences for solar electricity by exploring attributes rural households are looking for in solar chargers. The relationship between households' preferences and off-grid solar electricity was analyzed using a random parameter logit model. Findings indicate that confidence in the quality of the product was the most important variable, and that respondents associated higher priced solar chargers with higher quality. These findings suggest that energy companies making off-grid electricity technology could consider offering warrantees for high-quality products in order to build consumers' trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though the European Union has imposed a mandatory labeling system for conventional meats, there is no mandatory labelling scheme for the so called 'minor meats' – such as hunted wild game meat (HWGM). Thus, some European countries have implemented voluntary labelling programs certificating the origin of wild game meat. This study uses a discrete choice experiment to: (1) assess consumer preferences for processed meat products (including wild game meat bearing a HWGM label); and (2) investigate whether consumers' attitudes towards animal welfare affects their food choice behavior for alternative meat products. Data was collected through an online survey conducted in Italy and consumer preferences for HWGM was estimated through a latent class logit model. Overall, results suggest that, even though HWGM label does not exist yet on the Italian market, it is appealing to Italian consumers and it will likely be accepted by the majority of them. However, consumers who are particularly concerned about animal welfare issues and animal rights showed the lowest level of the interest in the hunted game meat product and thus the presence of the HWGM label does not provide any benefit to them. Our findings have important implications for the development of successful marketing strategies and policy intervention in the HWGM sector at a national and European level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many firms rely on choice experiment-based models to evaluate future marketing actions under various market conditions. This research investigates choice complexity (i.e., number of alternatives, number of attributes, and utility similarity between the most attractive alternatives) and individual differences in decision time as key factors that affect the predictive performance of models based on choice experiments, both within and between complexity conditions. The results show that complexity and individual decision time not only affect the error in consumer choice models but also consumers' decision strategy and systematic utilities. The authors introduce a complexity-adjusted mixed logit (CAM logit) model to capture the various influences of complexity in choice experiment-based models. They illustrate the consequences of complexity on choice behavior with market share predictions of the CAM logit model for different complexity conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major concern for international marketers is how products will be received by foreign consumers in other markets. This study uses choice modeling to assess Chinese consumer preferences for pork and evaluate the potential demand for U.S. pork in the cities of Guangzhou and Hong Kong. We find that differences in preferences for domestic versus imported pork can be explained, in part, by consumers' level of patriotism. Marketing pork with a food safety claim can increase market demand for U.S. products, and accounting for differences in nationalistic attitudes can aid marketing efforts.

Consumer preferences are likely to become more important in policy and market initiatives in developing countries. This study explores current and potential demand for high-quality beef in Ecuador. A survey of 547 households (including two choice experiments) was carried out in order to gather knowledge, quality perceptions, and experiences regarding Ecuadorian beef and preferences for specific beef attributes. Consumers have positive and economically significant willingness-to-pay values for all credence attributes considered in the study: sanitary control, meat maturation, animal welfare, and traceability. The results provide evidence that there is a potential market for increased-quality beef in Ecuador. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The influence of nutritional warnings on consumers' choice of a snack was evaluated. • An experiment involving real products and real choices was conducted. • When products displayed warnings, 50% of participants fixated their gaze on them. • Nutritional warnings encouraged participants to choose unhealthful products less frequently. Nutritional warnings have been recently introduced as a new front-of-pack nutrition labelling scheme. Its particular goal is to facilitate the identification of products with excessive content of nutrients, given these are associated with non-communicable diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of nutritional warnings on consumers' choice of a snack in a choice experiment involving real products. A total of 199 participants were asked to evaluate a series of bread images on a computer screen using eye-tracking glasses. Once they finished the task, they were invited to help themselves a snack from a shelf as a compensation for their participation in the study. A total of 15 snack products with different nutritional composition were included on the shelf. Participants were randomly divided into groups: one that made their choice from a shelf containing products that did not include front-of-package nutritional information, whereas the other chose among products that featured nutritional warnings. Participants in both experiments invested an average of 14 s to select their product. When products were presented with warnings, 50% of the participants fixated their gaze on the warnings during the choice task. Significant differences in the frequency of selection of the products (p = 0.002) were found between the groups. When the warnings were present, participants chose products with fewer warnings and lower average sodium, saturated fat, and sugar content (p < 0.001). These findings confirm the potential of nutritional warnings to encourage more healthful food choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, an increasing number of new value-added aquaculture products made their way onto the European market, as a response to growing demand for healthier diet, and more sustainable and locally produced protein sources. The importance of these drivers of consumer choice for aquaculture products' acceptance paves the way for a relevant reorientation of the European aquaculture industry towards a more consumer-centred approach. This research uses discrete choice experiments to examine the effect of health and nutrition claims, country-of-origin (COO), and eco-labels on consumer choice of new aquaculture products in a cross-cultural context. Three products with different preserving methods have been chosen for the study: fresh (chilled), canned, and smoked product. Results indicate that COO label "produced in own country" together with ASC eco-label function better than the health and nutrition claims as driver of choice. Results further point to the existence of different segments of "nutrition conscious", "ethnocentric", "price conscious", and "eco-conscious" consumers. Importance of health and nutrition claims, country-of-origin (COO) and eco (ASC) label per consumer segment: "nutrition conscious", "ethnocentric", "price conscious" and "eco-conscious". Unlabelled Image • Conditional logit and latent class analysis to model aquaculture products choice • COO label - produced in own country and ASC eco-label main drivers of choice • Nutrition conscious, ethnocentric, price conscious and eco-conscious segments • Guidance for the development of new value-added aquaculture products [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial variation of economic benefits associated with endangered species based on place of residence may be important to understand given conservation actions often place an unequal burden on rural and non-rural areas. In this article, place of residence differences are examined using split-sample stated preference choice experiment survey data from a study involving public preferences for protecting an endangered species, the Cook Inlet beluga whale. Standard mixed logit models provide evidence of a difference in estimated preference functions and willingness to pay (WTP) between households from rural and non-rural areas. However, when cost attribute non-attendance is accounted for, both rural and non-rural WTP estimates are scaled downward and differences in WTP dissipate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly being used as conservation tools in the marine environment. Success of MPAs depends upon sound scientific design and societal support. Studies that have assessed societal preferences for temperate MPAs have generally done it without considering the existence of discrete groups of opinion within society and have largely considered offshore and deep-sea areas. This study quantifies societal preferences and economic support for coastal MPAs in Wales (UK) and assesses the presence of distinct groups of preference for MPA management, through a latent class choice experiment approach. Results show a general support for the protection of the marine environment in the form of MPAs and that society is willing to bear the costs derived from conservation. Despite a general opposition toward MPAs where human activities are completely excluded, there is some indication that three classes of preferences within society can be established regarding the management of potentially sea-floor damaging activities. This type of approach allows for the distinction between those respondents with positive preferences for particular types of management from those who experience disutility. We conclude that insights from these types of analyses can be used by policy-makers to identify those MPA designs and management combinations most likely to be supported by particular sectors of society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to analyze preferences for various management options at the Atlantic Islands National Park in Spain, a stated choice survey was carried out. The complexity of responses and the identification of a wide variety of heterogeneous preferences and motivations were studied through the analysis of follow up questions. The application of a latent class model employing the information gathered in the follow-up questions has proved useful to disentangle different preferences and motivations. The results show that not considering this heterogeneity in the estimation process may lead to biased results, and therefore to an erroneous interpretation of individual's management preferences. In particular, results seem to indicate that those individuals with rational responses prefer to pay more for actions to improve the quality of the National Park rather than to expand it; while those with a protest attitude are more reactive to some measures, such as visits control and the creation of smoking areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A number of choice experiment (CE) studies have shown that survey respondents employ heuristics such as attribute non‐attendance (ANA) while evaluating food products. This paper addresses a set of related methodological questions using empirical consumer data from a CE on poultry meat with sustainability labels. First, it assesses whether there are differences in terms of marginal willingness to pay estimates between the two most common ways of collecting stated ANA (serial and choice task level). Second, it validates the self‐reported ANA behaviour across both approaches. Third, it explores the concordance of stated methods with that of the inferred method. Results show that WTP estimates from serial‐level data differ from those from choice task‐level data. Also, self‐reported measures on choice task ANA are found to be more congruent with model estimates than those for serial ANA, as well as with inferred ANA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability issues are becoming increasingly important in Western food consumption. This research aims at identifying ways to increase the market share of sustainable fish from aquaculture by analyzing consumer awareness and preferences for sustainable aquaculture products and by drawing conclusions on improving communication in the German market. An integrative research approach was used: it began with an inventory of sustainable seafood products on the German market, followed by qualitative and quantitative consumer research, and ending with a stakeholder workshop, which reflected on the research outcome with practitioners. Sustainability and country of origin proved to be of minor relevance to the vast majority of the consumers interviewed. Indeed, attributes such as freshness, taste, and price frequently ranked higher. Like most of the other consumers, the small consumer segment that is generally interested in sustainability issues of food also often lacks knowledge of fish farming and its products. Consequently, communication of sustainability in aquaculture is challenging, and the development of this market requires concerted actions along the whole value chain, with the retail sector as the main actor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study represents a first analysis of citizens’ willingness to pay (WTP) for agroecosystem services in a Baltic country (Lithuania). Since it is part of the European Union, Lithuania applied environmental agriculture schemes to support the production of agroecosystem services by farmers. Therefore, understanding the demand of such services may help policy makers to allocate funds. This study revealed that Lithuanian residents are concerned about environmental problems that may be caused by agriculture. Moreover, while the provision of agroecosystem services is demanded, citizens show very different tastes concerning these services. The application of a latent class model highlights three groups of citizens with different tastes and levels of WTP. Among the ecosystem services tested, the landscape provisions show the highest level of heterogeneity across the class. This study’s findings provide quantitative information concerning the demand for improvements in agroecosystem services through agri-environmental protection programmes. The obtained data supports the conclusion that choice experiments are a reliable tool to analyse consumers’ preferences related to environmental protection in Lithuania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a discrete choice experiment with 336 consumers, this study investigated whether the consumer propensity to choose a simplified European Union (EU) vs. non-EU denomination of origin for beef, instead of a specific country-of-origin (COO) denomination, depends upon the amount and type of credence information provided to the individual. The likelihood of choosing the EU/non-EU denomination of origin depended on the total number of other labelling credence attributes provided and also on the type of detailed credence attributes present in the choice. The presence of cues relating to animal welfare and far-reaching traceability had the highest likelihood of influencing the choice of the EU/non-EU denomination of origin. The compensatory qualities of each credence attribute in relation to the EU/non-EU origin denomination thus differed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers are the ultimate value realizers of aquatic germplasm resources. Their choice preferences for a species trait are the endogenous driving force for constructing a long-term utilization mechanism for marine resources. So, this study gauges customer preferences and willingness to pay for various aquatic oyster trait qualities to provide marketable information for oyster breeding. We collected primary data from selected major cities in Shandong Province, China. Based on the choice experiment method, the data were analyzed using a mixed logit model and a latent category model to identify consumer preferences and willingness to pay for oyster trait attributes (shell shape, size, thickness, and color). We find that customer preferences for oyster characteristics vary widely. The highest willingness to pay was for the shell size trait, and the results were still significant after the information intervention. Next, the consumers' preferences for oyster trait attributes also differed between the low-market-value base consumers (70.5%) and the high-market-value market consumers (29.5%). In conclusion, this research offers recommendations from several angles to give breeders focused and practical references in identifying and protecting aquatic germplasm resources. • Chinese consumers' preferences and willingness to pay for different trait attributes of aquatic oysters. • Consumers' preferences for oyster traits were heterogeneous, and the results remained significant after the information intervention. • Consumers' preferences for oyster trait attributes also differed among different categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A choice experiment of consumers from five Mid-Atlantic states was conducted to compare marginal willingness to pay for fresh tomatoes with the attributes locally grown, state marketing program promoted, and organic from either a grocery store or farmers' market. Data were analyzed using a mixed logit model. Results show that consumers in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia prefer local tomatoes, while those in Delaware and New Jersey prefer state program versions. Unexpectedly, price premiums for organic over conventional tomatoes were only exhibited in Maryland, and Virginia was the only state with a significant premium for the farmers' market venue.

This paper evaluates communication treatments and price differentiation for beef raised organically and in conventional animal husbandry production systems. Data were obtained from a choice experiment, assessing animal husbandry, organic or conventional production and price, with 676 consumers in six grocery stores in three different German cities. When choosing beef, participants exhibited a high preference for enhanced husbandry conditions and organic production. Without further information about the husbandry conditions, ‘organic’ and ‘pasture-based’ production labelling was most likely to influence buying decisions. When informed about the conditions of ‘extensive suckler cow husbandry’, consumers were most likely to be motivated by the label ‘extensive suckler cow husbandry’, followed by ‘organic production’; accordingly, willingness to pay for a beef steak was highest for ‘extensive suckler cow husbandry’. Informing consumers about suckler cow husbandry results in a change of their preferences from ‘organic’ to ‘extensive suckler cow husbandry’. This holds great potential for extensively produced beef. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because edible insects provide nutritional and environmental benefits, there is a focus on establishing and optimizing the insect production sector and developing the value chain. However, little is known about consumers’ reactions to insects as food. This paper provides a first insight into consumers’ preferences for termite-based food products (TBFPs) using data from a choice experiment survey in Kenya. A novel feature of this paper is that it investigates the combined effects of product-related and contextual attributes, as well as consumer attitudes on preferences for TBFPs. In addition, the paper focuses on the extent to which preferences may be affected depending on the meal formats, i.e. whether the termites are introduced either as whole insects or as a processed component in a typical daily meal. The results suggest that consumers prefer TBFPs with high nutritional value and especially when they are recommended by officials. Results further indicate that affirmative recommendations are particularly important for the processed TBFP, and consumers prefer to buy this type of product in kiosks or supermarkets than at local marketplaces. Despite a considerable degree of preference heterogeneity, most consumers react positively to whole as well as processed termites. Therefore, the introduction of TBFPs is likely to succeed regardless of whether the termites are processed or not, although introducing the processed product may require further information and quality assurances to alleviate perceived food risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of a laboratory experiment using incentivized choice to find consumer preferences for authorized film material. Topics include the impact of information on the use of funds from sales on the purchase of authorized films, psychological choice aspects of digital piracy, and the consideration of tradeoffs by study participants.

While international trade in organic products has grown significantly, understanding consumers' preferences for imported organic foods has remained limited. This research examines the impact of country-of-origin labeling on US consumers' choices of organic foods. Results show that consumer valuation of domestically produced organic broccoli was significantly higher than that of imported organic broccoli. Adding information about USDA organic certification standards/rules for imported products mildly increases consumer valuation of imported organic broccoli in some cases. These findings suggest that providing such information may have a positive impact on consumer willingness to purchase imported organic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world coffee market shows that coffee is a widespread consumption product characterized considerable potential for further increases. Coffee is one of the world's most valuably traded commodity and its market is defined by high price volatility and long-term declining profits for the producers. Since the late 1990s the sustainability debate has been directly linked to the coffee sector so that coffee is regarded as the pioneering industry for sustainability standards and certification. Organic and Fair Trade are two of the most important ethical attributes of coffee with specific labels. The success of an organic and/or Fair Trade coffee depends on several factors. One of the most critical is the willingness of consumers to pay a premium price for ethical attributes. This study uses a choice experiment (CE) in accordance with several other studies to investigate the attitudes towards organic and Fair Trade coffee among Italian consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Efforts to develop rice cultivars with drought tolerance (DT) traits have resulted in several varieties that demonstrate significant resilience to drought stresses. We employ discrete choice experiments to examine farmers’ preferences for DT traits and explore heterogeneity in these preferences using primary data from Bihar, India. Results suggest that farmers value reductions in yield variability offered by DT paddy, but are willing to pay even more for seeds that offer yield advantages under normal conditions. We demonstrate that risk aversion and loss aversion not only significantly influence choice probabilities but also affect the way farmers value different seed attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study links sensory analysis with consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for national, private label, and local brands of cheese at the retail level. Results indicate that a lesser-known local brand is rated the highest of four cheese brands for its sensory characteristics, but is not competitive with the other brands, in terms of consumer WTP, unless it has a state-sponsored designation (SSD). The competitiveness of a second local brand with high label recognition was aided when labeled "locally-produced," but not by the SSD. Hence, local designations strengthen brands in general, but SSDs are best for lesser known, high quality products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Preferences for beef labelling origin and quality cues was studied using choice experiments (CE). [•] CEs, are widely used to elicit attribute importance. [•] CEs with and without presence of price was compared. [•] Gaps for attribute importance was supported, but more so on levels than in orderings. [•] CEs reveal violations of transitivity and dominance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Beef cues with decreasing relevance were visible fat, price, colour and origin. [•] Ideal beef had slight fat, medium–low price, was locally produced, and bright-red. [•] Identified consumer segments were focused on: ‘health’, ‘price’ and ‘quality’. [•] Enriched beef with n-3 or CLA but not their combination improved hedonic scores. [•] Consumers were willing to pay a premium for enriched beef with beneficial fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an analysis of consumer preferences for product claims, specifically about origin and production methods. In particular, it addresses two important questions: i) whether consumers are willing to pay a premium for food products carrying these claims; and ii) whether local and organic claims are complements or substitutes. A choice experiment designed to estimate two-way interactions was undertaken in Spain for eggs. The findings show first, that consumers are willing to pay a positive premium price for an enhanced method of production (that of barn, free-range and/or organic instead of cage produced eggs) as well as for the proximity of production (local, regional and national over imported). Second, the findings show that consumer preferences for the claims are heterogeneous with two consumer segments being identified: 'origin preference', the larger segment, and the 'production method preference'. Results show that organic and local claims were complements for the larger first segment but that free-range and local/regional claims were substitutes for the second smaller segment. These results provide the marketing chains with insights applicable for pricing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The introduction of new products on the market poses several challenges; in particular, whether the characteristics of the proposed product will be judged positively by potential consumers. This paper analyses the preferences of consumers regarding the introduction on the Italian market of a new product: organic Mediterranean sea bass. The aim of this study is to assess the importance given by consumers to four main characteristics of sea bass (country of origin, size, production method – organic or conventional – and price) so as to be able to formulate marketing strategies. We applied a choice experiment (CE) in order to define not only the ordinal ranking of preferences but also the willingness to pay (WTP) for the key characteristics of the newly-introduced product. We found that consumers show a higher WTP for the sea bass country of origin than for the breeding method used. Our results suggest that while organic aquaculture might be a new and important strategy for diversification, if suitable communication, either from a public policy or commercial perspective, and labelling/certification are not taken into consideration, the added value of the production method might not be perceived by the final consumers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose – This paper seeks to analyze consumer preferences toward fresh rabbit meat and obstacles and interest in consuming the product. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses the dual response choice experiment (DRCE) design which allows for analyzing forced and unforced options in choice experiments using the same sample. The heteroscedastic extreme-value (HEV) model is used due to its relaxation of the restrictive assumption made in the multinomial logit model regarding the identically distributed error term across alternatives. The empirical analysis uses consumer-level questionnaires to elicit information regarding consumer attitudes toward rabbit meat in Catalonia (Spain). Findings – The results demonstrate a higher preference for rabbit meat from "Catalan" origin followed by higher quality certification information. Convenience and "ready-to-eat" products made from rabbit meat may help bolster increased consumption. An effective communication campaign is needed to educate individuals regarding the health characteristics of rabbit compared to other types of meat. Furthermore, results demonstrate that the ordering of attributes is not significantly different from forced and non-forced choices obtained from the DRCE design. However, significant differences on the magnitude of the preferences for some attributes' levels are found. Research limitations/implications – From a methodological point-of-view, the study follows a similar design to the dual response choice experiments. However, the study is differentiated by asking consumers whether they are willing to buy the product. More emphasis is made on the purchasing context of the task leading consumers to focus more on their budget constraints by considering the price. The study uses the DRCE design as an alternative of the traditional single stage choice experiments. Owing to budgets constraint, the study could be improved by comparing results from both designs. At the empirical level, it would be interesting to extend the study to other geographical parts in Spain. Social implications – The study can help policy makers in stimulating demand for rabbit meat. Rabbit meat farmers in Catalonia were forced to abandon their farms due to the lack of demand. Consumption has decreased dramatically. As recommended in the paper, high quality labelling of the meat, improving the carcass format and its presentation and the healthiest characteristic of the meat could be a good way to promote and stimulate demand. Originality/value – From the empirical point-of-view, this study, to the authors' knowledge, is the first application of CE and CV to analyze consumers' preferences towards rabbit meat. Furthermore, it is the first paper that applies the HEV model in agro-food economics and specifically towards rabbit meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper addresses the issue of ordering effects in choice experiments, and in particular how learning processes potentially affect respondents' stated preferences in a sequence of choice sets. In a case study concerning food quality attributes of chicken breast filets, we find evidence of ordering effects in a sequence of 16 choice sets, where the last eight choice sets are identical to the first eight. We find evidence of changes in preferences. More precisely there are differences in preferences for the price attribute for the two identical sequences. Moreover, we find a reduction in the error variance for the last eight choice sets relative to the first eight choice sets. This is mainly caused by very high error variances in the first two choice sets. These results imply that learning effects in terms of institutional learning as well as – though in our case only to a limited extent – preference learning can indeed be of significant structural importance when conducting CE surveys. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The paper investigates to what extent context dependency is present, when consumers are introduced to different risk reducing technologies and how this will affect their preferences for reductions in food risks. In particular, choice experiments are used to elicit consumer preferences for reducing Salmonella risks in pork using farm level interventions vs. decontamination of meat at the abattoir. We found an interesting asymmetry in the context dependency. The presence of the least preferred risk reduction technology (lactic acid decontamination) affected the relative preferences for the two most preferred technologies (farm level intervention relative to water decontamination). However, the presence of farm level intervention did not affect the relative preferences for the two least preferred technologies (decontamination using lactic acid relative to water). These results are in line with earlier findings of bad news having greater effect than good news — now applied to context dependency of preferences for food safety technologies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Choice-based conjoint experiments are used when choice alternatives can be described in terms of attributes. The objective is to infer the value that respondents attach to attribute levels. This method involves the design of profiles on the basis of attributes specified at certain levels. Respondents are presented sets of profiles and asked to select the one they consider best. However if choice sets have too many profiles, they may be difficult to implement. In this paper we provide strategies for reducing the number of profiles in choice sets. We consider situations where only a subset of interactions is of interest, and we obtain connected main effect plans with smaller choice sets that are capable of estimating subsets of two-factor and three-factor interactions in and plans. We also provide connected main effect plans for mixed level designs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents results from stated choice experiments looking at the influence of positionality in peoples’ choices of passenger cars in the Netherlands. It provides evidence that cars are positional goods and that selected car attributes such as size, engine capacity and interior add to their positionality. This suggests downsizing of cars through corrective taxation aimed at CO2 benefits would lead to lower welfare costs than micro-economic welfare theory suggests. The experiments also show that car buyers are very heterogeneous and have a strong predisposition to choose a type of car and its attributes similar to their current car. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Different economic valuation methodologies can be used to value the non-market benefits of an agri-environmental scheme. In particular, the non-market value can be examined by assessing the public's willingness to pay for the policy outputs as a whole or by modelling the preferences of society for the component attributes of the rural landscape that result from the implementation of the policy. In this article we examine whether the welfare values estimated for an agri-environmental policy are significantly different between an holistic valuation methodology (using contingent valuation) and an attribute-based valuation methodology (choice experiment). It is argued that the valuation methodology chosen should be based on whether or not the overall objective is the valuation of the agri-environment policy package in its entirety or the valuation of each of the policy's distinct environmental outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]