S1088: Specialty Crops and Food Systems: Exploring Markets, Supply Chains and Policy Dimensions

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Active

Project Menu

SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[01/27/2021] [12/15/2021] [12/20/2022] [02/22/2024] [12/02/2024]

Date of Annual Report: 01/27/2021

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/10/2020 - 10/11/2020
Period the Report Covers: 12/01/2019 - 11/30/2020

Participants

We had 15 members in attendance: Karina Gallardo, Washington State University; Dawn
Thilmany, Colorado State University; Ramu Govindasamy, Rutgers University, Greg Fonsah,
University of Georgia, James Stern, Oregon State University; Margarita Velandia, University of
Tennessee Knoxville; Zoë Plakias, The Ohio State University; Tim Woods, University of Kentucky;
Kathryn Boys, North Carolina State University; Ariana Torres, Purdue University; Marco
Costanigro, Colorado State University; Bradley Rickard, Cornell University; Alicia Rihn, University
of Tennessee Knoxville; Kynda Curtis, Utah State University; Jackie Yenerall, University of
Tennessee Knoxville.

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

S1067_AnnualReport_December10_2020.pdf

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 12/15/2021

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/17/2021 - 10/17/2021
Period the Report Covers: 12/01/2020 - 11/30/2021

Participants

Zoë Plakias, Ramu Govindasamy, Dawn Thilmany, Karina Gallardo, Kathryn Boys, Kristin Kiesel, Brad Rickard, Jackie Yenerall, Tim Woods, Kynda Curtis, Kim Morgan, Jenifer McBeath, Greg Fonsah

Brief Summary of Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Zoë Plakias at 11 AM Central Time.
1. We began by welcoming folks to the meeting, reviewing the meeting agenda, and review our S-1088 multi-state group objectives.
2. The minutes from the 2020 S-1067 meeting (the final meeting of S1067) were approved.
3. Members in attendance provided state reports (state reports are summarized by objective below).
4. Members in attendance discussed future collaborative activities. We discussed themes that emerged from updates, including food system resiliency, innovations in labeling and branding value-added, climate change and specialty crops, and engaging with recently developed communities of practice outside the S1088 group. Future collaborative activities discussed by the group included a track session leading into a 2023 Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy special issue on the topic of food system resiliency, working groups with possible submission for Food Dollar grant at Cornell, meeting among S1088 members and industry representatives from LFS COVID group to discuss possible research needed by stakeholders.
5. The group discussed potential new members to encourage to join and elected a new chair for the group, Kathryn Boys.
6. The meeting was adjourned at 2 PM Central Time

Accomplishments

Objective 1 Analyze the relative benefits and costs for fruit, vegetable, and other specialty crop farmers of: a) the adoption of production and processing practices (e.g., organic, biodynamic farming, adaptation to climate-extremes) and novel technologies at the field level (i.e., mechanical harvesting, biodegradable plastics, gene-edited varieties) that address both the changing production environment and the consumer preferences and needs that will be explored in Objective 2; and b) government and industry-led programs aiming to address consumer preferences and needs while guaranteeing the viability of farm businesses (e.g., certifications, plastic pollution regulations, Farm Workforce Modernization Act). Summary We conducted a variety of research projects related to Objective 1. We conducted research on new specialty crops that may benefit producers and consumers. For example, Jenifer McBeath (U. of Alaska) conducted research on cultivation and marketing of rhodiola rosea, a medicinal plant, and Ramu Govindasamy (Rutgers) conducted research on turmeric production and marketing. We also engaged in research on production and harvesting innovations to enhance farm viability and resilience and environmental sustainability. Karina Gallardo (WA State U.) worked on the economic impacts of pests in specialty crops, along with member Marco Palma (Texas A&M). Zoë Plakias (OH State) and Brad Rickard (Cornell) began a project on the economic impacts of citrus greening disease in partnership with the USDA ERS. Margarita Velandia (U. of Tennessee) conducted research on the adoption of automation technologies in the nursery industry and worked with Tim Woods (U. of Kentucky) on research related to high tunnels and soil health. Member Brad Rickard (Cornell) engaged in the multidisciplinary the Root2Fruit project focused on research to enhance rootstock quality in tree fruits and mitigate disease. We conducted research on postharvest innovations. Brad Rickard (Cornell) and Karina Gallardo (WA State) engaged in research on postharvest technologies to enhance sustainability and improve storage attributes for fruits. Finally, we engaged in research on farm management, with a focus on response and resilience to recent shocks. Kynda Curtis (UT State) conducted research on Native American land leasing and drought on reservations and beginning farmer programs for immigrants and Native Americans. Kynda Curtis (UT State) also conducted research on winery resiliency and the impacts of COVID on small/medium farms. Kynda Curtis (UT State) and Ariana Torres (Purdue) conducted a survey of organic wheat farmers. Ramu Govindasamy (Rutgers) and Kathy Kelley (Penn State) conducted a survey on the impacts of COVID-19 on local food, agritourism, direct marketing. Impact Our work in this area helps provide farmers and decision makers with the evidence they need to make informed decisions in their operations. In addition, our research related to shocks, including COVID-19 and climate-related shocks (e.g., drought) enhances understanding of the changing environment for farmers and informs future research needs and Extension programming across our states. Objective 2 Investigate the policy and market factors that affect the demand for fresh and value-added specialty crop products, including consumer understanding, perceptions, and behavioral response to non-conventional systems of agri-food production (e.g., organic, biodynamic, hydroponics, vertical growing), and the production and processing practices, and some of the novel technologies explored in Objective 1; commodity and regional marketing programs; voluntary labeling schemes (e.g., Fair Trade, Bee Friendly Farming, SIP Certified, geo-identified, integrated or “stacked” labels); product country of origin; international trade, food safety incidents and food safety risk-reducing practices (e.g., traceability systems), among others. Summary We continued to engage in research related to Objective 2. We conducted research on consumers’ preferences for and willingness to pay for certain specialty crops and their attributes. Brad Rickard (Cornell) and Karina Gallardo (WA State) conducted research on how consumers think about new breeding technology for grapes and their willingness to pay for bundles of attributes. Karina Gallardo (WA State) also conducted research with Elizabeth Canales (MS State) and Marco Palma (Texas A&M) on the impacts of labeling on purchase intention for blueberries and cranberries. Kristin Kiesel (University of California, Davis) conducted research on consumer reactions to local labels at local independent food co-op and reactions to promotions. Kynda Curtis (UT State) conducted research on consumer preferences for specialty/artisan bakery goods. We also conducted research on food waste at the consumer level. Jackie Yenerall (U. of Tennessee) conducted research on food loss and food waste at the consumer level and variation on food waste across the income spectrum. Brad Rickard (Cornell) and Brenna Ellison (U. of Illinois) conducted research on food waste and the trade-off between food waste and gene editing. We conducted research on trade and risks associated with it. Kathryn Boys (NC State) conducted research on the trade of organically certified products, food fraud and its incidence for internationally traded product and how fraud has changed due to COVID, as well as liability and fraud related to food safety risk. Impact Our work provides farmers and other food system stakeholders with key insights about consumer demand to inform their decisions. In addition, our work to identify opportunities to reduce food loss and maintain food quality in consumer and trade environments provides valuable insight for policy makers seeking to enhance food safety and security. Objective 3 Identify drivers and implications related to the use of various specialty crop marketing channels at the local, regional, national and international scales, including profitability of participation by farmers and intermediaries; benefits and costs for consumers and communities to participate; impacts of various sources of risk and uncertainty; the role of institutional marketing innovations; presence and impacts of market power; implications of supply chain management practices; resiliency of supply chains to shocks; and costs and benefits of policies that impact specialty crop marketing channels. Summary We conducted research in a variety of areas in support of this objective. We conducted research on policies and initiatives to support local and regional supply chains. Zoë Plakias (OH State) and Becca Jablonski (CO State) conducted research on the impacts of state-level farm to school procurement subsidies in three states on farmers and rural communities. Dawn Thilmany, Becca Jablonski, and Alessandro Bonanno (all at CO State) conducted research on localizing supply chains and the impacts of these efforts on farmers. Tim Woods (U. of KY) conducted research on local sourcing at restaurants and continued his work to develop and utilize a local food vitality index. We worked to enhance marketing opportunities for specific specialty crops and products. Dawn Thilmany and Marco Castanigro (both at CO State) worked on a farm to foam project in the beer supply chain in response to state policy changes. Tim Woods (U. of KY) worked on a project on cut flower marketing, Kynda Curtis (UT State) conducted research on organic dryland wheat marketing, and Ramu Govindasamy (Rutgers) and Kathy Kelley (Penn State) conducted research on organic produce marketing and organic processed food marketing. We conducted research on the impacts of programs to engage local and regional food systems to provide food access to underserved populations. Zoë Plakias (OH State) conducted an impact evaluation of a program to sell fresh produce in rural corner stores and provide fresh produce to local food banks in rural Appalachian Ohio. Kathryn Boys (NC State) wrapped up a related NC Healthy Corner Store food program. Margarita Velanda and Jackie Yenerall (both at U. of TN) conducted research on food justice organizations engaged in local food systems. We conducted research on the impacts of COVID-19 on local and regional food systems, and the role of these systems in global food system resilience in the presence of systemic shocks. Dawn Thilmany (CO State), Tim Woods (U. of KY), along with partners at Penn State, USDA AMS, and industry partners, participated in the Local Food System Response to COVID project to rapidly gather data from consumers and industry and share strategies for resilience across sectors. Dawn Thilmany (CO State) and Elizabeth Canales (MS State) conducted research on the impacts of COVID-19 on local supply chains. Zoë Plakias (OH State) conducted research on the role of emergency management in food system resilience and the costs and benefits of interventions intended to enhance resilience. Impact Our work enhances market opportunities for farmers, consumers, and other food system stakeholders in the context of specialty crop supply chains, as well as local and regional food systems. As more people look to local and regional supply chains as a potential source of resilience in the context of COVID-19-induced food system shocks, we are providing expertise to support rapid pivots as well as develop strategies to support long-term resilience and better prepare for the next disaster or disruption.

Publications

Publications State, Station, or Agency (S-1088 members in bold) 1. Alston, J., O. Sambucci, B. Rickard, R.K. Gallardo. 2021 (November). “Trait Economics-Annual Report.” USDA-NIFA-SCRI Project: VitisGen2: Application of Next Generation Technologies to Accelerate Grapevine Cultivar Development. 2. Beghin, J. 2021 (September). “Willingness to pay for genome edited food.” Cornhsuker Economics. 3. Curtis, K., T. Drugova, and R. Ward. 2021. “Utah Fresh Produce Grower Preferred Drought Management Strategies.” USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2021-01pr. 4. Curtis, K., T. Drugova, and R. Ward. 2021. “Utah Livestock Producer Preferred Drought Management Strategies.” USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2021-02pr. 5. Curtis, K., T. Drugova, and R. Ward. 2021. “Utah Hay and Forage Grower Preferred Drought Management Strategies.” USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2021-03pr. 6. Drugova, T., and K. Curtis. 2021. “Bakery Organic Wheat Flour Quality and Quantity Requirements.” USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2021-07pr. 7. Drugova, T., and K. Curtis. 2021. “Wheat Miller and Distributor Organic Wheat Quality and Quantity Requirements.” USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2021-08pr. 8. Fonsah, E.G. 2021. “Veinte Cohol Banana Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 9. Fonsah, E. G., E. Smith and J. Jacobs. 2021. “Blackberry Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 10. Fonsah, E. G., S.R. Kunwar, R. Allen, J. Jacobs and S. Curry. 2021. “Southern High Bush Blueberry Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 11. Fonsah, E. G, J. Shealey and S. Carlson. 2021. “Cantaloupe Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 12. Fonsah, E. G., S. R. Kunwar and P. Edwards. 2021. “Muscadine Grapes Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 13. Fonsah, E. G., L. Wells, W. Hudson and D. Collins. 2021. “Pecan - High Input Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 14. Fonsah, E. G., L. Wells, W. Hudson and D. Collins. 2021. “Pecan - Low Input Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 15. Fonsah, E. G., J. Price and B. Cantrell. 2021. “Satsuma - Projected Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 16. Fonsah, E. G., J. Price and B. Cantrell. 2021. “Satsuma - 5th Year Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 17. Fonsah, E. G., J. Price and B. Cantrell. 2021. “Satsuma - 6th Year Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 18. Fonsah, E. G., S. Carlson, S. Curry, and R. Brown. 2021. “Strawberry Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 19. Fonsah, E. G., T. Coolong, P. Tucker and J. Shealey. 2021. “Watermelon Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 20. Fonsah, E. G., J. Shealey, J. Kichler and S. Carlson. 2021. “Bell pepper Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 21. Fonsah, E. G., and J. Shealey. 2021. “Broccoli Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 22. Fonsah, E. G., T. Coolong, J. Kichler and J. Shealey. 2021. “Cabbage – Bare ground Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 23. Fonsah, E. G., and A. DaSilva. 2021. “Cabbage – Nitrogen Studies Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 24. Fonsah, E. G., and J. Shealey. 2021. “Carrots Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 25. Fonsah, E. G., J. Shealey and J. Kichler. 2021. “Cucumber – Bare ground Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 26. Fonsah, E. G., and S. Carlson. 2021. “Cucumber - Climbing Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics. University of Georgia. 27. Fonsah, E. G., J. Kichler and J. Shealey. 2021. “Cucumber – Plastic Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 28. Fonsah, E. G., T. Coolong, J. Kichler and J. Shealey. 2021. “Collard Green Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 29. Fonsah, E. G., J. Kichler and J. Shealey. 2021. “Eggplant Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 30. Fonsah, E. G., J. Kichler and J. Shealey. 2021. “Jalapeno Pepper Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 31. Fonsah, E. G., T. Coolong, J. Kichler, and J. Shealey. 2021. “Kale Green Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 32. Fonsah, E. G. and C. Tyson. 2021. “Onions Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 33. Fonsah, E. G., J. Shealey and B. Starr. 2021. “Snap Beans Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 34. Fonsah, E. G., and J. Shealey. 2021. “Squash - Double Cropped Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 35. Fonsah, E. G., and J. Shealey. 2021. “Squash – Bare Ground Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 36. Fonsah, E. G., and J. Shealey. 2021. “Sweet Corn Enterprise Budget in Georgia.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 37. Fonsah, E. G. and J. Shealey and S. Carlson. 2021. “Tomato on Plastic Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 38. Fonsah, E. G., R. Srinivasan and S. Diffie. 2021. “Tomato (TYLCV) Enterprise Budget.” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 39. Fonsah, E.G. 2021. “Fruits and Tree Nuts.” In: 2021 Georgia Ag Forecast, Strategic Insights for Georgia’s #1 Industry, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, pp. 12-13. 40. Fonsah, E.G. 2021. “Vegetables and Pulses.” In: 2021 Georgia Ag Forecast, Strategic Insights for Georgia’s #1 Industry, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, pp. 12-13. 41. Gallardo, R.K. and S. Galinato. 2021 (November). “2020 Cost Estimates of Producing Bartlett Pears for Canning in Washington State.” Washington State University Extension Bulletin TB80E. 42. Gallardo, R.K. and S. Galinato. 2021 (March). “2019 Cost Estimates of Establishing, Producing and Packing Gala Apples in Washington.” Washington State University Extension Bulletin TB18E. 43. Kelley, K. M. 2020 (December 15). "Research and Extension Update." Energy, Business, and Community Vitality Extension Team. 44. Kelley, K. M. 2021. "Creating a tasting room experience." Penn State Extension. 45. Kelley, K. M. 2021. "Alcoholic Beverage Category Trends." Penn State Extension. 46. Kelley, K. M. 2021. "Developing Your Tasting Room Loyalty Program." Penn State Extension. 47. Kelley, K. M. 2021. "Tasting Room Odds and Ends." Penn State Extension. 48. Kelley, K. M. 2021. "Subscription Boxes for Ag. Businesses." Penn State Extension. 49. Kelley, K. M. 2021. "Cause marketing program strategies." Penn State Extension. 50. Kelley, K. M. 2021. "Customer Service Checkup." Penn State Extension. 51. Kelley, K. M., & B. Canziani. 2021. "Telling your story: Letting customer know why your brand is unique." Penn State Extension. 52. Kelley, K. M., & C. Schmidt. 2021. "COVID-19 Research to Support Tasting Room Owners in Pennsylvania. Part 1." Penn State Extension. 53. Kelley, K. M., & C. Schmidt. 2021. "Festival and Event Trends." Penn State Extension. 54. Rice, E., and K. Curtis, (2021). “Drought-Tolerant Options for Southwest Agriculture: Edible Produce.” USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2021-05pr. 55. Rice, E., and K. Curtis, (2021). “Drought-Tolerant Options for Southwest Agriculture: Grasses, Grains, and Legumes.” USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2021-04pr. 56. Rice, E., and K. Curtis, (2021). “Drought-Tolerant Options for Southwest Agriculture: Ornamentals, Herbs, and Cosmetics.” USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2021-06pr. 57. Rihn, A., A. Fulcher, H. Khachatryan. 2021. “A Ten Year Review of the Southeast U.S. Green Industry, part 1: Labor and Firm Characteristics.” UT Extension Publication, W1026. 58. Schmidt, C., & K. M. Kelley. 2021. "Winery tasting room precautions during COVID-19 - What customers are looking for." Penn State Extension. 59. Torres Bravo, A. P. 2020. "Social media tools during COVID19," Purdue Landscape Report. 60. Velandia, M., A. Fulcher, K.L. Jensen, and J.L. Cross. 2021. “Labor Use and Challenges Faced by Tennessee Fruit and Vegetable Producers.” UT Extension Publication, W985. 61. Velandia, M., A. Fulcher, K.L. Jensen, and S. Schexnayder. 2021. “Labor Use and Challenges Faced by Tennessee Nursery and Floriculture Producers.” UT Extension Publication, W984. 62. Velandia, M., A. Rihn, R. Denton, R., Z. Hansen, D. Lockwood, and N. Bumgarner. 2020. “Sample Budgets for Blueberry Production under Various Integrated Pest Management and Marketing Strategies.” UT Extension, D102. Outreach/Industry Publications 1. Angelo, B., L. Mangus, D. Johnson, and D. Thilmany. 2020 (December). “Capturing Federal and State Dollars for Colorado’s Food System.” Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council Issue Brief. 2. Ellison, B., B. McFadden, B. Rickard, and N. Wilson. 2020. Food Loss and Waste in the United States during COVID-19. In CAST Commentary: Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on Food and Agricultural Markets. Available at: https://www.cast-science.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/QTA2020-3-COVID-Impacts.pdf 3. Fonsah, E.G., and J. Shealey. (2020). “Coronavirus, Seasonal Workers and Food Supply Shortage.” Food, Agriculture, and Resource Economics (FARE) Blog, Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics, University of Georgia. 4. Gallardo, R.K. 2021. “Washington Tree Fruit Outlook.” In Washington Agribusiness Status and Outlook, An Annual Report by Washington State University’s School of Economic Sciences (T. Randall Fortenbery and Timothy P. Nadreau, eds.). Available online at: http://ses.wsu.edu/impact-center/ 5. Love, E. A. Bauman, D. Thilmany, and B.B.R. Jablonski. 2020 (December). “The Economic Contribution of Nourish Colorado’s Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program.” CSU Regional Economic Development Institute Report. 6. Raszap Skorbiansky, S., G. Astill, E. Higgins, J. Ifft, B.J. Rickard, R. Yuan, and S. Rosch. 2021. Specialty Crop Participation in Federal Risk Management Programs. Economic Information Bulletin (forthcoming). United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. 7. Rickard, B., and M. Wiltberger. 2020. “Perspectives on Fruits and Vegetables.” In the Cornell-CALS Report titled “Impact of COVID-19 on New York Agriculture.” Available at: https://cals.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/2020-10/covid19-impacts-white-paper-from-cornell-university.pdf 8. Thilmany, D. 2020 (December). “Consumer Food Insights: Survey Overview.” Local Food System Response to COVID Series CFI-01. 9. Thilmany, D. and H. Edmondson. 2021 (April). “COVID-19 Food Channel Expenditure Shares: Trends Across Time and Consumer Perceptions.” Local Food System Response to COVID Series CFI-07. 10. Thilmany, D. and H. Edmondson. 2020 (December) “Consumer Food Insights: Use of Food Market Channels.” Local Food System Response to COVID Series CFI-02. 11. Xu, Lei, Zoë Plakias, and Jennifer Garner. 2021. “Exploring Food Security in Southeast Ohio.” Food Systems and the Food-Water-Energy Nexus blog, Department of Geography, Ohio State University. Online: https://u.osu.edu/geographyblog/2021/04/07/exploring-food-security-in-southeast-ohio/. Refereed Journal Articles 1. Adalja, A., F. Livat, B.J. Rickard, and A. Susskind. 2021. “Old world and new world sparkling wines: Consumer decisions and insights for retailers.” Cornell Hospitality Quarterly 62(3): 346-356. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1938965520978168. 2. Ali, E., E.G. Fonsah, and S. Waliullah. 2021. “First Report of Crown Rot of Banana Caused by Fusarium Porliferatum in Georgia, USA.” Forthcoming in Plant Disease Journal. 3. Amin, M.D., S. Badruddoza, and J.J. McCluskey. 2021. “Predicting access to healthful food retailers with machine learning.” Food Policy 99:101985. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101985. 4. Balistreri, E., F. Baquedano, and J. Beghin. “The Impact of COVID-19 and Associated Policy Responses on Global Food Security.” Forthcoming in Agricultural Economics. 5. Basu, R. and R.K. Gallardo. 2021. “Economic Issues Related to Long-Term Investment in Tree Fruits.” Choices 36(2):1-7. Available online: https://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/theme-articles/trends-and-challenges-in-fruit-and-tree-nut-sectors/economic-issues-related-to-long-term-investment-in-tree-fruits. 6. Beghin, J. and C. Gustafson. “WTP for and attitudes towards novel food produced with New Plant Engineering Techniques: A review.” Forthcoming in Sustainability. 7. Beghin, J.C., and H. Schweizer. 2021. “Agricultural Trade Costs.” Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy 43(2):500-530. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13124500. 8. Beghin, J and J. O’Donnell. “Trade Agreements in the Last 20 Years: Retrospect and Prospect.” Forthcoming in EuroChoices. 9. Bonanno, A. and S. Mendis. 2021. “Too Cool for Farm to School? Analyzing the Determinants of Farm to School Programming Continuation.” Food Policy 102: 102045. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102045. 10. Chen, X., B. Kassas, & Z. Gao. 2021. “Impulsive Purchasing in Grocery Shopping: Do the Shopping Companions Matter?” Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services 60: 102495. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2021.102495. 11. Chen, X., Y. Heng, Z. Gao, & Y. Jiang. 2021. “Impacts of Duo‐regional Generic Advertising of Social Media on Consumer Preference.” Agribusiness: 1-24. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21713. 12. Chenarides, L. T.J. Richards, and B.J. Rickard. 2021. “COVID-19 impact on fruit and vegetable markets: One year later.” Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue Canadienne d’Agroéconomie 69(2): 203–214. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/cjag.12272. 13. Costanigro, M., and B. Jablonski. 2021. “Consumer Stigma and the Reputation Trap Hypothesis: an In-Store Experiment with Colorado Wines.” Journal of Wine Economics 16(2): 210-230. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/jwe.2021.8. 14. Curtis, K. and S. Slocum. 2021. “Rural Winery Resiliency and Sustainability through the Covid-19 Pandemic.” Sustainability 13(18):10483. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810483. 15. Curtis, K., T. Drugova, T. Knudsen, J. Reeve, and R. Ward. 2020. “Is Organic Certification Important to Farmers' Market Shoppers or is Eco-Friendly Enough?” HortScience 55(11):1822-1831. doi: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15291-20. 16. Didero, N., M. Costanigro, and B. Jablonski. 2021. “Promoting Farmers Markets via Information Nudges and Coupons: a Randomized Control Trial.” Agribusiness: An International Journal 37(3): 531-549. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21688. 17. Drugova, T., K. Curtis, and R. Ward. 2021. “Producer Preferences for Drought Management Strategies in the Arid West.” Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems: 1-10. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170521000259. 18. Ellison, B., B. McFadden, B. Rickard, and N. Wilson. 2021. “Examining food purchase behavior and food values during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy 43(1): 58-72. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13118. 19. Garrido, D. and R.K. Gallardo. 2021. “Are Improvements in Convenience Good Enough for Consumers to Accept New Food Processing Technologies.” Agribusiness An International Journal, July. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21716. 20. Govindasamy, R., S. Arumugam, G. Gao, M. Hausbeck, A. Wyenandt and J.E. Simon. 2021. “Downy Mildew Impacts and Control Measures on Cucurbits in the United States.” Journal of American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers: 78-90. 21. Grant, K.R., R.K. Gallardo, and J.J. McCluskey. 2021. “Consumer Preferences for Foods with Clean Labels and New Processing Technologies.” Agribusiness: An International Journal 37(4): 764-781. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21705. 22. Hammami, A.M., and J.C. Beghin. 2021. “The Trade and Welfare Impacts of the US Retaliatory Tariff on EU Olive Oil.” Agricultural Economics 52(5):807-818. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12655. 23. Ho, S.-T., and B.J. Rickard. 2021. “Regulation and purchase diversity: Empirical evidence from the U.S. alcohol market.” International Review of Law and Economics 68(December): 106008. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irle.2021.106008. 24. Huseynov, S., and M.A. Palma. 2021. “Food Decision-Making under Time Pressure.” Food Quality and Preference 88(March): 104072. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2020.104072. 25. Huseynov, S., M.A. Palma, and G. Ahmad. 2021. “Does the Magnitude of Relative Calorie Distance Affect Food Consumption?” Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization 188:530-551. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2021.05.037. 26. Jablonski, B.B.R., A. Bauman and D. Thilmany. 2021. “Local Food Markets and Labor Intensity.” Applied Economic Policy and Perspectives 43(3):916-34. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13059. 27. Jensen, K. L., J. Yenerall, X. Chen, & T. E. Yu. 2021. “US Consumers’ Online Shopping Behaviors and Intentions During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics 53(3):416-434. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/aae.2021.15. 28. Kelley, K., M. Todd, H. Hopfer, and M. Centinari. 2021. "Identifying wine consumers interested in environmentally sustainable production practices." International Journal of Wine Business Research, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWBR-01-2021-0003. 29. Knuth, Melinda J., Hayk Khachatryan, Charles R. Hall, Marco A. Palma, Alan W. Hodges, Ariana P. Torres, and Robin G. Brumfield. 2021. “Trade Flows within the United States Nursery Industry in 2018.” Journal of Environmental Horticulture 39(2): 77-90. doi: https://doi.org/10.24266/0738-2898-39.2.77. 30. Krzyzanowski Guerra, Kathleen, Drew Hanks, Zoë T. Plakias, Susie Huser, Tom Redfern, and Jennifer Garner. 2021. “Short Value Chain Models of Healthy Food Access: A Qualitative Study of Two Approaches.” Nutrients 13(11): 4145. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13114145. 31. Kunwar, S. R. and E.G. Fonsah. 2021. “Economic Analysis of Southern Highbush Blueberry in Georgia Using Drip Irrigation.” Forthcoming in Journal of Extension. 32. Long, A. B.R. Jablonski, M. Costanigro and W.M. Frasier. 2021. “The Impact of State Farm to School Procurement Incentives on School Purchasing Decisions.” Journal of School Health 91(5): 418-427. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13013. 33. Low, S., M. Bass, D. Thilmany and M. Castillo. 2021. “Local Foods go Downstream: Exploring the Spatial Factors Driving U.S. Food Manufacturing.” Applied Economic Policy and Perspectives 43(3):896-915. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13046. 34. Marette, S., A. C. Disdier, and J. Beghin. 2021. “A Comparison of EU and US consumers' willingness to pay for gene-edited food: Evidence from apples.” Appetite 159(April): 105064. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2020.105064. 35. Marette, S., J. Beghin, A-C Disdier, and E. Mojduszka. "Can foods produced with new plant engineering techniques succeed in the marketplace? A case study of apples." Forthcoming in Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. 36. O’Hara, J., M. Castillo and D. Thilmany. 2021. “Do Cottage Food Laws Reduce Barriers to Entry for Food Manufacturers?” Applied Economic Policy and Perspectives 43(3):935-954. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13047. 37. Plakias, Zoë T. 2021. “Cost-Benefit Analysis as a Tool for Measuring Economic Impacts of Local Food Systems: Case Study of an Institutional Sourcing Change.” Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development 10(3): 1-25. doi: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2021.103.011. 38. Pruitt, J.R., K.M. Melton, and M.A. Palma. 2021. “Does Physical Activity Influence Consumer Acceptance of Gene Edited Food?” Sustainability 13: 7759. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147759. 39. Richards, T.J., and B.J. Rickard. 2021. “Dynamic model of beer pricing and buyouts.” Agribusiness: An International Journal 37(4): 685-712. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21698. 40. Rihn, A. L., A. P. Torres Bravo, S. S. Barton, B. K. Behe, and H. Khachatryan. 2021. “Marketing Strategies Used by U.S. Landscape Services Firms.” HortScience 56(6):695-708. doi: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15774-21. 41. Rihn, A. L., A. P. Torres Bravo, S. S. Barton, B. K. Behe, and H. Khachatryan. 2021. “Evaluating the Business and Owner Characteristics Influencing the Adoption of Online Advertising Strategies in the U.S. Green Industry.” HortScience 56(6):659-666. doi: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15766-21. 42. Schmit, T. M., B.B.R. Jablonski, A. Bonanno, and T. Johnson. “Measuring stocks of community wealth and its association with food systems efforts in rural and urban places.” Forthcoming in Food Policy. 43. Shih, Y-T., W. Wang, A. Hasenbeck, D. Stone, and Y. Zhao. 2020. “Investigation of physicochemical, nutritional, and sensory qualities of muffins incorporated with dried brewer’s spent grain flour as a source of dietary fiber and protein.” Journal of Food Science 85(11): 3943-3953. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.15483. 44. Thilmany, D., L. Brislen, H. Edmondson, M. Gill, B.B.R. Jablonski, S. Rocker, J. Rossi, T. Woods and S. Schaffstall. 2021. “Novel methods for an interesting time: Exploring U.S. local food systems’ impacts and initiatives to respond to COVID.” Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics 59:848-877. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8489.12456. 45. Tiboldo, G., A. Bonanno, R. Lopez, and E. Castellari. 2021. “Competitive and Welfare Effects of Private Label Presence in Differentiated Food Markets.” Applied Economics 53(24): 2713-2726. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2020.1866160. 46. Todd, M. J., K. M. Kelley, & H. Hopfer. 2021. "USA Mid-Atlantic Consumer Preferences for Front Label Attributes for Local Wine." Beverages 7(22): 1-16. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages7020022. 47. Torres Bravo, A. P. “Defining Diversification in the Specialty Crops Industry.” Forthcoming in the Journal of Food Distribution Research. 48. Torres Bravo, A. P., M.I. Marshall, & M. S. Delgado. 2021. “The Economic Implications of Social Capital on Hispanic Entrepreneurship.” Journal of Small Business Strategy 31(7): 72-87. Retrieved from https://libjournals.mtsu.edu/index.php/jsbs/index 49. Torres Bravo, A. P. “Marketing and Advertising Practices of U.S. Landscape Firms.” Accepted at HortTechnology. 50. Uddin, A. and R.K. Gallardo. 2021. “Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Organic, Clean Label, and Processed with a New Food Technology: An Application to Ready Meals.” International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 24(3):1-18. doi: https://doi.org/10.22434/IFAMR2020.0127. 51. Velandia, M., C. Trejo-Pech, K. Moskowitz, K. Tanaka, H. Hyden, K. Rignall, A. and Del Brocco. 2021. “Financial Sustainability of Nonprofit Organizations Covering Multiple Goals of the Food Justice Mission: The Case of New Roots, Inc.” Forthcoming in Journal of Food Distribution Research. 52. Velandia, M., K. Jensen, K. DeLong, A. Wszelaki, and A. Rihn. 2020. “Tennessee Fruit and Vegetable Farmer Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Plastic Biodegradable Mulch.” Journal of Food Distribution Research 51(3): 63-87. 53. Waliullah, S., E.G. Fonsah, and E. Ali. 2021. “First Report of Stem-end Rot Caused by Lasiodiplodia Theobromae on Banana in Georgia, USA.” Forthcoming in Plant Disease Journal. 54. Wang, E., Z. Gao, & X. Chen. 2021. “Chinese Consumer Preference for Processed Food Quality Attributes and the Impact of Trust in Information Sources.” British Food Journal Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-01-2021-0041. 55. Weersink, A. M. von Massow, N. Bannon, J. Ifft, J. Maples, K. McEwen, M. McKendree, C. Nicholson, A. Novakovic, A. Rangarajan, T. Richards, B. Rickard, J. Rude, M. Schipanski, G. Schnitkey, L. Schultz, D. Schuurman, K. Schwartzkopf-Genswein, M. Stephenson, J. Thompson, and K. Wood. 2021. “COVID-19 and the Agri-Food System in the United States and Canada.” Agricultural Systems 188(March):103039. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2020.103039. 56. Weis, C., A. Narang, B.J. Rickard, and D. Souza Monteiro. 2021. “Effects of date labels and freshness indicators on food waste patterns in the United States and the United Kingdom.” Sustainability 13(14): 7897. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147897. Books and Book Chapters 1. Beghin, J.C. 2021. “Sanitary and PhytoSanitary Measures” in Current Issues in Global Agricultural and Trade Policy: A Tribute to the Work of Timothy Josling (D. Blandford and S. Tangermann, eds.). World Scientific Publishing. 2. Hwang, L.C, H.R. Juliani, R. Govindasamy and J.E. Simon. 2020. “Traditional botanical uses of non-timber forest products (NTFP) in seven counties in Liberia” in African Natural Plant Products, Volume III: Discoveries and Innovations in Chemistry, Bioactivity, and Applications (H.R. Juliani, J.E. Simon and C.T. Ho, eds.). American Chemical Society, ACS Symposium Series 1361. Oxford University Press. 3. McCluskey, J.J. and J.A. Winfree. “Product Differentiation in Food” in forthcoming book Modern Guide to Food Economics (Jutta Roosen and Jill E. Hobbs, eds.). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. 4. Peters, C. and D. Thilmany. “Using models to study food systems” in forthcoming book Food Systems Modelling (C. Peters and D. Thilmany, eds.). Elsevier. Refereed Conference Proceedings (S-1088 members in bold) 1. Brumfield, Robin G., Deborah Greenwood, Madeline Flahive DiNardo, Arend-Jan Both, Joseph R, Heckman, Ramu Govindasamy, Nicholas Polanin, Ashaki A. Rouff, Amy Rowe, Richard VanVranken, and Surendran Arumugam. 2020. “Farming in New Jersey’s Cities and the Urban Fringe: A successful educational program for women producers, beginning farmers, and military veterans.” Proceedings of Conference on Women’s Empowerment in the World, pp. 355-363. 2. Drugova, T., K. Curtis, and M.K. Kim. 2021. “The Economic Impacts of Drought on Navajo Nation.” Journal of Food Distribution Research 52(1): 31-38. 3. Torres Bravo, A. P. 2021. “The adoption of drying value-added technologies in the specialty crop industry.” Journal of Food Distribution Research 52(1): 92-101. 4. Velandia, M., X. Chen, J. Yenerall, S. Schexnayder, C. Trejo-Pech, K. Tanaka, H. Hyden, K. Rignall. (2021). “Factors Influencing Fruit and Vegetable Farmers’ Willingness to Participate in Market Outlets with a Food Justice Mission: The Case of Fresh Stop Markets.” Journal of Food Distribution Research 52(1): 6-7.

Impact Statements

Objective 3: Marketing and market channels Through our work, we intend to: • Enhance the effectiveness of marketing efforts conducted by food and farm businesses • Develop markets for innovative products that provide new sources of consumer and produce value • Support development of local and regional supply chains and innovative marketing channels for the benefit of consumers, producers, and communities

Date of Annual Report: 12/20/2022

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/23/2022 - 10/23/2022
Period the Report Covers: 12/01/2021 - 11/30/2022

Participants

In attendance:
Blare, Trent (tblare@ufl.edu) – University of Florida
Boys, Kathryn (kaboys@ncsu.edu) – North Carolina State University
Canales, Elizabeth (elizabeth.canales@msstate.edu) – Mississippi State University
Coker, Christine (ccoker@ra.msstate.edu) – Mississippi State University
Curtis, Kynda (kynda.curtis@usu.edu) – Utah State University
Fonsah, Greg (gfonsah@uga.edu) – University of Georgia
Govindasamy, Ramu (govind@sebs.rutgers.edu – Rutgers University
Kelley, Kathleen (kmk17@psu.edu) – Pennsylvania State University
Lamie, Ronald (David) (dlamie@clemson.edu) – Clemson University
McBeath, Jenifer (jhmcbeath@alaska.edu) – University of Alaska
Plakias, Zoë (plakiaz@wwu.edu) – Ohio State University
Sterns, James (jasterns@oregonstate.edu) – Oregon State University
Thilmany, Dawn (Dawn.Thilmany@ColoState.edu) – Colorado State University
Torres, Ariana (torres2@purdue.edu) – Purdue University
Velandia, Margarita (mvelandi@utk.edu) - University of Tennessee Knoxville
Woods, Timothy (tim.woods@uky.edu) – University of Kentucky

Brief Summary of Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Kathryn Boys at 1 PM Central Time.

We began by welcoming folks to the meeting, reviewing the meeting agenda, and reviewing our S-1088 multi-state group

The minutes from the 2021 S-1068 meeting were

Members in attendance provided state reports. Highlights of the state reports are summarized by objective below.

Members in attendance discussed future collaborative activities. We discussed themes that emerged from updates – including research and extension activities related to consumer preferences and marketing of cut flowers, and craft beer and wine. It was suggested that these topics would be good topics to propose as the focus for special issues of journals (i.e. Choices, Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy).

In addition, there was a discussion concerning the challenges that many members of our group experience when collaborating with those from other disciplines. Given the focus of their work, this commonly happens with collaborators from horticultural science. By way of example, members are very often invited to join grant application teams quite late in the process and asked to take on large amounts of work for a very insufficient budget to complete the requested tasks. It was suggested that we develop or contribute to a session for best practices for transdisciplinary projects; it was suggested that it would be useful for this to be held at horticultural science events such as through a symposium session at a major horticulture conference. In addition, it was suggested that an infographic be developed which describes best practices for incorporating economists (and others) into multidisciplinary grant teams.

The group discussed potential new members that could be encouraged to join and elected a new chair for the group, Greg Fonsah (University of Georgia).

The meeting was adjourned at 4 PM Central Time

Accomplishments

Organized by Objective   Objective 1 <h2>Analyze the relative benefits and costs for fruit, vegetable, and other specialty crop farmers of: a) the adoption of production and processing practices (e.g., organic, biodynamic farming, adaptation to climate variability) and novel technologies at the field level (i.e., mechanical harvesting, biodegradable plastics, gene-edited varieties) that address both the changing production environment and the consumer preferences and needs that will be explored in Objective 2; and b) government and industry-led programs aiming to address consumer preferences and needs while guaranteeing the viability of farm businesses (e.g., certifications, plastic pollution regulations, Farm Workforce Modernization Act).</h2>   Summary We conducted a variety of research projects related to Objective 1.   We conducted research about new specialty crops that may benefit producers and consumers. For example, Jenifer McBeath (U. of Alaska) has continued research on the cultivation and marketing of Rhodiola Rosea, a medicinal plant.  Trent Blare (University of Florida) has projects involving the production of several crops including finger limes, vanilla, and tomatoes, and David Lamie (Clemson) is engaged in collaborations concerning the production, demand, and marketing of Southern Heritage Crops including Carolina Golden Rice.  Several members, including Tim Woods (University of Kentucky) and Kynda Curtis (Utah State University), are engaged in projects examining the production and marketing of cut flowers.   We also engaged in research on farmer technology adoption, and production and harvesting innovations to enhance farm viability and resilience, and environmental sustainability.  Several members engaged in research concerning farmer adoption of new production technologies including Kristen Kiesel (UC Davis) and Karina Gallardo (Washington State University).    More specifically, members in several states are engaged in research concerning specialty crop production in high tunnel production (e.g. Arianna Torres, Purdue; Christine Coker, Mississippi State) and/or vertical farming (Tim Woods, University of Kentucky).  Members in Oregon (James Sterns, Oregon State University) are engaged in research concerning how climate change affects the wine industry through rootstock quality and other impacts on grape production; Kathleen Kelley (Pennsylvania State University) is engaged in research concerning the use of cover crops in wineries.  Bradley Rickard (Cornell) engaged in research concerning the role of fuel taxes applied in the shipping industry for agricultural products.  This work determined that fuel taxes need to be higher than previously thought to have a meaningful impact on shipping speed and fuel use for bulky agricultural products.    Finally, we engaged in research concerning farm management, with a focus on response and resilience to recent shocks. Tim Woods (University of Kentucky) continued work with Amish specialty crop producers and their auctions.  As an outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ariana Torres (Purdue) has ongoing work developing extension resources regarding farm contingency planning.    <h1>Impact</h1> Our work in this area helps provide farmers and decision-makers with the evidence they need to make informed decisions in their operations. In addition, our research related to shocks, including COVID-19 and climate-related shocks (e.g., drought) enhances understanding of the changing environment for farmers and informs future research needs and Extension programming across our states.   <h1>Objective 2</h1> <h2>Investigate the policy and market factors that affect the demand for fresh and value-added specialty crop products, including consumer understanding, perceptions, and behavioral response to non-conventional systems of agri-food production (e.g., organic, biodynamic, hydroponics, vertical growing), and the production and processing practices, and some of the novel technologies explored in Objective 1; commodity and regional marketing programs; voluntary labeling schemes (e.g., Fair Trade, Bee Friendly Farming, SIP Certified, geo- identified, integrated or “stacked” labels); product country of origin; international trade, food safety incidents and food safety risk-reducing practices (e.g., traceability systems), among others.</h2>   Summary We continued to engage in research related to Objective 2.   We researched consumers’ preferences for and willingness to pay for certain specialty crops and their attributes, and the technologies used to produce them. Brad Rickard (Cornell) and Karina Gallardo (WA State) conducted research concerning consumers’ opinions about new breeding technology for grapes. In addition, with other members, Karina Gallardo (WA state) contributed to several studies examining consumer willingness to pay for foods that have applied technologies.  Marco Palma (Texas A&M) completed research regarding the influence of social status, physical activity, and socio-demographics on willingness to pay for organic foods.  Kynda Curtis (UT State) and Ariana Torres (Purdue) researched consumer preferences and willingness to pay for organic bakery products.   Ramu Govindasamy (Rutgers) was involved in research concerning the impact of COVID on agritourism and direct marketing events in the Mid-Atlantic region.   We also conducted research on food and food packaging waste at the consumer level. Jackie Yenerall (U. of Tennessee) continued research on food loss and food waste at the consumer level and variation in food waste across the income spectrum. Brad Rickard (Cornell) collected data from households to differentiate between fruit and vegetable, protein, and starch waste allowing researchers to determine if household shopping behavior has a heterogeneous relationship with fruit and vegetable waste.  Members in Florida (Zhifeng Gao) completed research exploring whether packaging waste impacts consumer preferences for meal kits.   We examined issues concerning the international trade of agri-food products trade and the risks associated with it. Kathryn Boys (NC State) researched the trade of organically certified products, and food fraud and its incidence for internationally traded food products.    <h1>Impact</h1> Our work provides farmers and other food system stakeholders with key insights about factors affecting consumer demand to inform their decisions. In addition, our work to identify opportunities to reduce food loss and maintain food quality in consumer and trade environments provides valuable insight for policymakers seeking to enhance food safety and security.   <h1>Objective 3</h1> <h2>Identify drivers and implications related to the use of various specialty crop marketing channels at the local, regional, national, and international scales, including profitability of participation by farmers and intermediaries; benefits and costs for consumers and communities to participate; impacts of various sources of risk and uncertainty; the role of institutional marketing innovations; presence and impacts of market power; implications of supply chain management practices; resiliency of supply chains to shocks; and costs and benefits of policies that impact specialty crop marketing channels.</h2>   Summary A variety of research was conducted to fulfill this objective.   We researched policies and initiatives to support local and regional supply chains. Zoë Plakias (OH State) and collaborators in other states researched the impacts of state-level farm-to-school procurement subsidies on farmers and rural communities. Dawn Thilmany and Tim Woods (University of Kentucky) collaborated on several outreach publications concerning the impact of COVID-19 on food supply chains and insecurity during COVID-19.  Tim Woods (U. of KY) conducted research on several important aspects of the role of CSAs, including workplace CSA programs.    We worked to enhance marketing opportunities for specific specialty crops and products. Kynda Curtis (UT State) and Arianna Torres (Purdue) researched organic dryland wheat marketing.  Trent Blare (FL) is conducting research regarding several tropical fruits, including finger limes, hemp, and vanilla.  In addition, Trent and colleagues are working on digital marketing projects.  Tim Woods (U of Kentucky), Kynda Curtis (UT State), and James Sterns (U of Oregon) are working on several aspects of marketing local cut flowers.   We researched the public health and other impacts of programs to engage local and regional food systems.  Zoë Plakias (OH State) contributed to a significant report concerning food system resiliency in Ohio.  Members at Colorado State continue to explore connections between produce markets and public health initiatives, such as the GUSNIP program as there is initial evidence that having food retailers and farmers’ markets align with local food producers will increase the economic activity catalyzed by those programs in local economies.      We researched the impacts of COVID-19 on local and regional food systems, and the role of these systems in global food system resilience in the presence of systemic shocks. Dawn Thilmany (CO State), Tim Woods (U. of KY), along with partners at Penn State, USDA AMS, and industry partners, and others developed the Local Food System Response to COVID project to rapidly gather data from consumers and industry and share strategies for resilience across sectors.  Outputs from this initiative continue to be released during this reporting period.  Zoë Plakias (OH State) contributed to a significant report concerning food system resiliency in Ohio.    <h1>Impact</h1> Our work enhances market opportunities for farmers, consumers, and other food system stakeholders in the context of specialty crop supply chains, as well as local and regional food systems. As more people look to local and regional supply chains as a potential source of resilience in the context of environmental and COVID-19-food system stressors we providing expertise to identify and characterize the many and varied impacts of these stresses, and to help farm and food system participants develop strategies to support their long-term resilience to disruptions. Short Term  Outcomes   During this reporting period, we produced hundreds of research, outreach, and Extension outputs, listed above, leading to these short-term outcomes: <ul> <li>Policy makers gained valuable insights to inform their decision-making: </li> </ul> Through COVID-based projects with the USDA, members at Colorado continue to identify and highlight strategies and best practices that have allowed local and regional food businesses to stay viable during the pandemic.  There are also new market development and Regional Food Center grants becoming available through the USDA AMS based on findings of additional needs for that community of practice, and many members of this committee will be key partners to bring those resources to needed enterprises in their states.    Members in North Carolina, Colorado, and elsewhere, have continued to explore connections between produce markets and public health initiatives, such as the GUSNIP program as there is initial evidence that having food retailers and farmers’ markets align with local food producers will increase the economic activity catalyzed by those programs in local economies.  Through work by members in Ohio and elsewhere, policymakers also gained information relevant to decision-making related to food access, food system development, and farm-to-school procurement.  <ul> <li>Extension professionals received tools and knowledge to disseminate research-based information to their local stakeholders: Through professional development workshops, members in Tennessee increased practical knowledge among Extension agents working with specialty crop farmers to help these growers make informed decisions about marketing strategies to sell blueberries and environmentally sustainable production practices to <ul> <li>Farmers, agribusiness professionals, food system stakeholders, and policymakers gained access to new information about and production practices to use in their operations: Across states, our members provided training to hundreds of farm and food system operators on topics including consumer acceptance of new types of crops and new agricultural production technologies. These projects include efforts by members in Alaska to improve the cultivation and marketing practices for a medicinal plant (Rhodiola Rosea), and by members in New York (Cornell) and Washington to provide new insights into the likelihood that gene-edited technologies will be accepted by consumers.  California members (UC Davis) contributed to the adoption of new technology and standards and suggested revisions to policies moving forward.  Kentucky members conducted an extensive evaluation of the feasibility of controlled environment agriculture.  This has resulted in significant state and private investment, including new partnerships with Dutch firms, government agencies, and research groups.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Farmers, agribusiness professionals, and food system stakeholders put the information they gained into practice: For example, grape breeders in California have indicated that they will be able to make more informed business decisions concerning their breeding programs based on information provided to this industry by members in New York and Washington states.</li> </ul>

Publications

State, Station, or Agency Presentations (S-1088 members in bold)   <ol> <li>Blare, T., Bejarano, A., Ballen, F., and Contreras, V. 2022 (October 25). ¿Hay futuro en el mercado de aguacate en Latinoamérica? Tendencias en la producción, consumo y exportación. Curso Técnico Internacional Marchitez del Laurel en Aguacate. UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center. Homestead, Florida.</li> <li>Blare, T. and Ballen, F. 2022. (June 15) How to market in a digital era. Multi-State Passion Fruit Conference. UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center. Homestead, Florida.</li> <li>Blare, T., Contreras V., and Ballen, F. 2022. (April 19). Can I make money growing passion fruit and dragon fruit? Tools to analyze your enterprise’s profitability. Passion Fruit and Dragon Fruit Growers’ Workshop. UF/IFAS Extension Miam-Dade County. Homestead, Florida.</li> <li>Blare, T. Contreras V., and Ballen, F. 2022. (May 10). Crea tu propio plan de comercialización en nueve pasos. Marketing in a Digital Era Virtual Workshop Series. <a href="https://youtu.be/0jY34j7clhQ">https://youtu.be/0jY34j7clhQ</a></li> <li>Blare, T. and Ballen, F. 2022. (May 2). Nine steps to create your own marketing plan. Marketing in a Digital Era Virtual Workshop Series. <a href="https://youtu.be/8mUaSYyb1Hw">https://youtu.be/8mUaSYyb1Hw</a></li> <li>Blare, T. and Ballen, F. 2022. (April 8). Nine steps to create your own marketing plan. UF/IFAS Marketing in a Digital Era Inservice Training. Virtual.</li> <li>Blare, T., Rivera, M. and Ballen, F. 2022 (April 5). Market potential for Floridan growers in industrial hemp. UF/IFAS Hemp Inservice Training. UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center. Apopka, Florida.</li> <li>Blare, T. and Ballen, F. 2022. (March 23) Market Potential for Floridian Finger Limes. UF/IFAS Virtual Finger Lime Symposium. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WlZ2ZiT8d4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WlZ2ZiT8d4</a></li> <li>Curtis, K. 2022. “Inflation Update: Food and Input Prices.” Utah Agriculture Outlook Webinar Series, USU Extension Applied Economics, May 19, 2022.</li> <li>Curtis, K. 2022. “Input Supply Shortages and Increased Prices.” Utah Agriculture Outlook Webinar Series, USU Extension Applied Economics, January 20, 2022.</li> <li>Curtis, K. 2022. “The Market for Local Cut Flowers: Florist Preferences, Needs, and Hurdles.” Utah Small and Urban Farms Conference, Online, February 23, 2022.</li> <li>Curtis, K. 2022. “What’s Up with Inflation and Input Prices.” Utah Small and Urban Farms Conference, Online, February 24, 2022.</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. “Fruits and Tree Nuts Outlook” Georgia Ag-Forecast, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Virtual Presentation.</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. “Vegetables and Pulses Outlook” Georgia Ag-Forecast, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Virtual Presentation.</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. Applied Banana Production Research”, 4H Worth County High School, Sylvester, GA (Phase 1).</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. (2022. Applied Banana Production Research”, 4H Worth County High School, Sylvester, GA (Phase ll).</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. “Record Keeping Management in Rice-Fish Production System”. Invited Presentation, Ikwo, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria, West Africa (July 22), (~ 150 mixed farmer participants – 1 hr. lectures).</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. “Record Keeping Management in Rice-Fish Production System”. Invited Presentation, Kimba, Jeda Local Government Conference Hall, Kebbi State, Northwest Nigeria, West Africa (July 19) (total 93 participants, i.e., 65 female and 28 male farmers participants – 1 hr. lectures).</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. “Record Keeping Management in Rice-Fish Production System”. Invited Presentation, Argungu, Kebbi State, Northwest Nigeria, West Africa (July 18), (~100 female farmers participant – 1 hr. lectures).</li> <li>Fonsah, E. G. 2022. “Adopting Total Quality Farm Management for Sustainable Fonio (acha) Production: An Integrated Approach”.  Mandela Washington Fellowship, IREX, Century Green Consortium and Peadet Workshop, Bogoro and Tafalewa Local Gov’t, Nigeria, West Africa.  Remotely presented (~101 participants, i.e., 12 via zoom and 89 in person – 1 hr. lectures). </li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. “Strategic Business Plan Adopting Total Quality Management (TQM) Concept: An Integrated Approach”. Invited Guest Lecturer Presentation, FOMIC Polytechnic University, Douala, Cameroon, March 14 (~ 100 participants – 1 hr. lectures).</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. “Impacts of the United States, Mexico & Canada Agreement (USMCA) on the Georgia Vegetable Industry”. Presented at the Southeast Regional Fruits and Vegetable Conference, Savannah, GA, USA, January 08. (~ 150 participants).</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K. 2022. “How does the Consumer Perceive New Food Production and Processing Technologies? Perspectives from Studies done in the United States and Mexico. En Español. Master Conference Innovation in the Food Industry.” Lima Department Council. Chapter of Food and Agrifood Engineering Industry. Online, Lima, Peru. October 12.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K., T. Reardon, D. Zilberman. 2022. “Customized Modern Breeding Value Chains in Symbiosis with Transforming Fruit Value Chains.” Annual Meetings of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. Anaheim, CA. August 1–2.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K. “Basic Economics with Case Study” Agricultural Leadership Program. Building Leadership in Washington’s Agriculture by the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, Washington State Department of Agriculture, and Washington State University. May 27, 2022.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K. “Basic Economics with Case Study- En Español” Agricultural Leadership Program. May 27, 2022.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K. and S. Galinato. “2021-2022 Cost Estimates of Establishing, Producing, and Packing Skeena Sweet Cherries in Washington State” – Washington State University Extension Bulletin TB85E, August 2022.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K. and S. Galinato. “2021-2022 Cost Estimates of Establishing, Producing, and Packing Chelan Sweet Cherries in Washington State” – Washington State University Extension Bulletin TB84E, August 2022.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K. and S. Galinato. “2021-2022 Cost Estimates of Establishing, Producing, and Packing Sweetheart Sweet Cherries in Washington State” – Washington State University Extension Bulletin TB83E, August 2022.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K. and S. Galinato. “2021-2022 Cost Estimates of Establishing, Producing, and Packing Coral Champagne Sweet Cherries in Washington State” – Washington State University Extension Bulletin TB82E, August 2022.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K. “An Overview of the Newly Updated Cherry Enterprise Budgets.” North Central Washington Stone Fruit Day. January 19, 2022. N=50.</li> <li>Ma, X., K. Gallardo, and E. Canales. 2022. “Trade-off Between a Novel Breeding Technology and the Willingness to Pay for Reduced Sugars, Exploratory Analyses of Two Cranberry Processed Products, under Different Information Treatments.” Annual Meetings of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. Anaheim, CA. August 1–2.</li> <li>McBeath, J.H. Microbes and Peony and Rhodiola Health. 2022 Alaska Farm Conference and Trade Show. November 11-13, Anchorage, AK.</li> <li>McBeath, J.H. 2022. Alaska Soil Microbial Communities: Biological and Molecular Approaches. UAF-USDA/ARS Joint meeting. September 12-15, 2022. Mandan and Fargo, ND.</li> <li>Morgan, K.L., X. Cui, and Z. Guan. 18 August 2022. “Florida Tomato Industry Update: Trends in Production & Markets.” Invited, 2022 Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo, Fort Myers, FL</li> <li>Morgan, K.L., and G. McAvoy. 7 June 2022. Rising prices worrying specialty crop producers: Valuation of BMPS in Florida. In-Service Training: Working with Clients to Measure Water Savings and Nutrient Load Reductions Associated with their BMP Implementation, 135th Annual Florida State Horticultural Society Meeting, Sarasota, FL</li> <li>Morgan, K.L. 6 June 2022. Market Trends for US Berry Crops: Implications for Florida Growers. Selected, 135th Annual Florida State Horticultural Society Meeting – Krome Memorial Section, Sarasota, FL</li> <li>Morgan, K.L. 21 March 2022. Florida fresh produce: Direct market & production trends. 7th Annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference, Apopka, FL.</li> <li>Morgan, K.L., and G. McAvoy. 21 January 2022. Embrace the change: Nothing gold can stay. Statewide Agricultural & Turf Suppliers Trade Group, National Association of Credit Management (virtual).</li> <li>Murray, A.D., K. Gallardo, and A. Prakash. 2022. “Mexican Consumers’ Attitudes towards Irradiated and Imported Apples.” Annual Meetings of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. Anaheim, CA. August 1–2.</li> <li>Okhunjanov, B.B.,J. McCluskey, and R.C. Mittelhammer, “Scarcity Pricing in the Dynamic Setting: the Case of Cult Wine Industry,” presented at the AAEA annual meeting, Anaheim, August 2, 2022.</li> <li>Oongo, K., J. McCluskey, R. C. Mittelhammer, J. A. Winfree and G. Astill,” Effects of COVID-19 on Specialty Crop Markets: An Extended Analysis presented at the AAEA annual meeting, Anaheim, August 2, 2022.</li> <li>Prevor, J. “Consumers, grapes, and gene-editing.” Featured Interview with Brad Rickard in the Perishable Pundit. January 3, 2022.  Available at: <a href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=01/03/22&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=website#7">http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=01/03/22&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=website#7</a></li> <li>Segovia, M., S. Zhao, Palma, R. Nayga, and R. Rainey. 2022. “Do consumers discriminate against minority entrepreneur farmers?” Economic Science Association North America. Santa Barbara, CA.</li> <li>Thilmany, D. (presenting on behalf of USDA AMS COVID team). Local and Regional Food Systems Response to COVID: How did Consumers Respond and What may Persist? Invited Brown bag lunch speaker. USDA ERS. July 2022.</li> <li>Thilmany, D. Exploring Colorado’s Industry and Economic Opportunities. Invited talk to Downtown Colorado Incorporated.  April 2022. Colorado Springs CO.</li> <li>Thilmany, D. An Overview of National and Florida Local & Regional Food Dynamics. Invited Talk to the Florida Ag Outlook conference.  March 2022. Opapka FL. https://fred.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/florida-agricultural-policy-outlook-conference/</li> <li>Thilmany, D. and C. Akers. Connecting Colorado Workforce and Economic Outlook with Ag and Rural Colorado. Invited Presentation to the Greeley Farm Show. January 2022. Greeley, CO.</li> <li>Thilmany, D. Morgan County & Northeast Colorado: Agriculture, Food and Broader Economic Trends. Presentation to Morgan County Farm Bureau. April 2022. Brush CO.</li> <li>Torres, A. P., "Marketing Contingency Planning," Purdue AgCast, Podcast from the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture.</li> <li>Torres, A. P., Greenhouse Grower webinar series, "How to Stop Gambling and Start Winning With Your Sales Forecast," Greenhouse Grower.</li> <li>Torres, A. P. (Author & Presenter), Rainbow EcoScience Annual Conference, "The Economics of PGRs," Rainbow EcoScience.</li> <li>Torres, A. P., Purdue Center for the Environment, "Why Twitter? A faculty conversation," Purdue Center for the Environment.</li> <li>Torres, A. P., Michigan Great Lakes Expo, "The Economics of PGRs for Landscape Maintenance," Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association, Lansing, MI.</li> <li>Velandia, M. Economics of BDM. Global Use of Soil-Biodegradable Mulch Webinar, March 1, 2022. Organized by Washington State University</li> <li>Woods, T. and Torres, 'MarketReady' and 'On-line Market Best Practices', Annie's Project, Purdue Extension, Virtual, March 6, 2022</li> <li>Woods, T. 'Marketing Outlets and Marketing Your Product', Living on a Few Acres series, Woodford County, Versailles, KY March 22, 2022.</li> <li>Woods, T. (with Mark Williams, Peter Ravensbergen), 'Feasibility Study of a CEA Ecosystem in Kentucky', Frankfort, KY, August 18, 2022</li> <li>Woods, T. 'National local food system networks responding to Covid', (session with other S-1088 project partners), American Agriculture and Applied Economics Association annual meetings, Anaheim, CA, August 2022</li> <li>Woods, T., 'CSA to Workplace - The University as an Anchor Employer, presented as part of eXtension', CLRFS Direct marketing models for local farm products linking wellness initiatives webinar, Virtual, September 30, 2022</li> <li>Woods, T. , 'Farm Market Business Planning and Channel Assessment Tools', Community Farm Alliance training, Virtual, Oct 11, 2022</li> <li>Woods, T. , 'Keys for Success in Selecting Farm Enterprises', Guest speaker, TNSU Beginning Farmers Program, Virtual, Nov 15, 2022</li> </ol>   State, Station, or Agency Publications (S-1088 members in bold)   <ol> <li>Drugova, T., and Curtis, “What Influences Consumer Taste Ratings for Organic Specialty Baked Goods.” Working Extension Fact Sheet</li> <li>Drugova, T., and K. Curtis, “The Impact of Consumer Taste Beliefs on Organic Pastry Preferences.” Working Extension Fact Sheet</li> <li>Edmondson, H. M. Gill, BBR Jablonski, J. Ladd, J. Rossi, S. Schaffstall, Thilmany and T. Woods. 2021. The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Insecurity. Infographic in CHOICES: The Magazine of Food, Farm, and Resource Issues. Vol. 36. Issue 4. AAEA. Online at: https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> <li>Edmondson, H. M. Gill, BBR Jablonski, J. Ladd, J. Rossi, S. Schaffstall, Thilmany and T. Woods. 2021. US Food Purchasing Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Infographic in CHOICES: The Magazine of Food, Farm, and Resource Issues. Vol. 36. Issue 4. AAEA. Online at: https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> <li>Edmondson, H. M. Gill, BBR Jablonski, J. Ladd, J. Rossi, S. Schaffstall, Thilmany and T. Woods. 2021. Online Food Shopping Trends During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Infographic in CHOICES: The Magazine of Food, Farm, and Resource Issues. Vol. 36. Issue 4. AAEA. Online at: https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> <li>Gao, S, Bonanno and M. Costanigro. Changes in Colorado Alcohol Distribution Law: Preliminary evidence from scanner data on changes in household retail alcohol purchase patterns. REDI Report – October 202 Available at <a href="https://redi.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2022/10/REDI-Report-Oct22-Retail-Alcohol.pdf">https://redi.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2022/10/REDI-Report-Oct22-Retail-Alcohol.pdf</a></li> <li>Healthy Food America and the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition. How GusNIP Nutrition Incentives Work: A Theory of Change. Thilmany - Contributor to National report.  <a href="https://www.nutritionincentivehub.org/resources-and-support/resources/reporting-evaluation/theory-of-change/nutrition-incentives">https://www.nutritionincentivehub.org/resources-and-support/resources/reporting-evaluation/theory-of-change/nutrition-incentives</a>. March 2022.</li> <li>Inwood, S., Plakias, J. Clark, N. Wright, A. Irish, and Josh Vittie.2022. “Preparing for Food System Resiliency in Ohio: Policy and Planning Lessons from COVID-19.” College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences & John Glenn College of Public Affairs, Technical Report. Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University. Online: <a href="https://u.osu.edu/ccwl/projects/ohio-emergency-management-and-food-systems/">https://u.osu.edu/ccwl/projects/ohio-emergency-management-and-food-systems/</a></li> <li>Jodlowski, M. and Plakias. 2022. “Unemployment in Ohio at the End of 2021.” Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, Research Report. Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University. Online: <a href="https://aede.osu.edu/aboutus/publications/unemployment-ohio-end-2021">https://aede.osu.edu/aboutus/publications/unemployment-ohio-end-2021</a></li> <li>Kiesel, K., R.E. Goodhue, R.J. Sexton, and A.Spalding. 2021. E. Coli in the Romaine Lettuce Industry: Economic Impacts from the November 2018 Outbreak. <a href="https://kiesel.ucdavis.edu/Full%20Report.pdf">https://kiesel.ucdavis.edu/Full%20Report.pdf</a></li> <li>Ravensbergen, P., M.A. Williams, B.J. Webb, W. G. Owen, A. Woods, L.H. Aramyan, Y.N. de Valk, 'Feasibility Study of a Controlled Environment Agriculture Ecosystem in Kentucky', Wageningen Economic Research Report, 2022-071 ISBN 978-94-6447-387-2, September, 2022."</li> <li>Rossi, J., S. Rocker and Thilmany. Exploring Awareness and Promotional Linkages to New Market Channels During COVID. Local Food System Response to COVID Series CFI-09. December 2021.  <a href="https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/">https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</a></li> <li>Thilmany, D., H. Edmondson and M. Gill. The Changing Face of Food Retailing: Growth in Online Platforms during COVID. CSU REDI Report – April 2022. https://redi.colostate.edu/</li> <li>Varziri, A. and Woods. "Consumer Covid Crisis Edges Back – A Little." Economic and Policy Update (22):7, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, July 29, 2022.</li> <li>Velandia, M., D. W. Lockwood, Z. R. Hansen, N. R. Bumgarner, O. Aza, R. Denton, and L. Rihn. 2022.  Sample budget for blackberry production under various integrated pest management and marketing strategies.  UTIA Extension Publication, D154.</li> </ol>   Refereed Journal Articles (S-1088 members in bold)   <ol> <li>Arumugam, S., Govindasamy, J. E. Simon, E. Van Wyk, and B. Ozkan. Market outlet choices for African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs): a socio‑economic analysis of farmers in Zambia. (2022), Agricultural and Food Economics: 10-28. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-022-00235-6">https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-022-00235-6</a></li> <li>Bass, D.A., B.R. McFadden, Costanigro and K.D. Messer (2022). “Implicit and Explicit Biases for Recycled Water and Tap Water”. Water Resources Research. 58 (2),1-17. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1029/2021WR030712">https://doi.org/10.1029/2021WR030712</a></li> <li>Bimbo, F., Bonanno A., and R. Viscecchia 2022 “Geographical Indications’ Prices and Marketing Margins: the role of Group Size, Longevity and Production Decisions” British Food Journal.</li> <li>Blare, T. and Donovan, J. 2022. Challenges for ‘going local’ by the tourism sector: Lessons from direct food sourcing initiatives in Cusco, Peru. Tourism and Hospitality Research. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F14673584221074923</li> <li>Blare, T., Baker, L., and Ballen, F. 2022. How to Create a Marketing Plan in the Digital Era. Southern Ag Today.</li> <li>Bloom, D., A. Boys, R. Shisler, R. Dunning, C. Hundley, D. Yates. 2022. Exploring Models of Local Food Procurement in Farm to Early Care and Education Programs. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension. 10(1), 3. <a href="https://doi.org/10.54718/CONI3088">https://doi.org/10.54718/CONI3088</a></li> <li>Boys, K.A., S. Zhang, N. Hooker.   The International Trade of U.S. Organic Agri-Food Products: Export Opportunities, Import Competition, and Policy Impacts. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 37(6): 603-617. doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170522000163">https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170522000163</a></li> <li>Chen, J., Lai, J., Chen, X., & Gao, Z. (2022). “Effect Of Shared Characteristics Between Ecolabels: A Case For Organic And Local Food.” International Journal of Consumer Studies. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12835</li> <li>Chen, X., Heng, Y., Gao, Z., & Jiang, Y. (2022). “Impacts of duo‐regional generic advertising of social media on consumer preference.” Agribusiness. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21713</li> <li>Dong, X., A. Klaiber, and T. Plakias. 2022. “I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Local Ice Cream: Consumer Preference for Locally Processed and Packaged Foods.” Agribusiness. 1-14. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21765">https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21765</a></li> <li>Drugova, T., and K.R. Curtis, (2022). “Why Can’t the Supply Chain Keep Up with Organic Bakery Product Demand? Understanding Miller, Distributor, and Baker Organic Wheat Quality Perceptions and Needs.” International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 25(4):601-617.</li> <li>Edger, P.P., M. Iorizzo, N.V. Bassil, J. Benevenuto, L.F. Ferrao, L. Giongo, K. Hummer, L.M.F. Lawas, C.P. Leisner, C. Li, P.R. Muñoz, H. Ashrafi, A. Atucha, E.M. Babiker, E. Canales, D. Chagne, L. DeVetter, M. Ehlenfeldt, R.V. Espley, R. Gallardo, C.S. Günther, M. Hardigan, A.M. Hulse-Kemp, M.L. Jacobs, M.A. Lila, C. Luby, D. Main, M.F. Mengist, G.L. Owens, P. Perkins-Veazie, J. Polashock, M. Pottorff, L.J. Rowland, C.A. Sims, G. Song, J. Spencer, N. Vorsa, A.E. Yocca, and J. Zalapa. 2022. “There and Back Again: Historical Perspective and Future Directions for Vaccinium Breeding and Research Studies.” Horticulture Research. April. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhac083">https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhac083</a>.</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G., R.K. Kunwar, J.C. Diaz-Perez (2022). Economic Evaluation of Bell Pepper Production Under Colored Shade Nets System in the Southeast Region of the USA, African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, ISSN: 2375-0693; Vol. 10(9), pp. 001-007 (August) Available online at internationalscholarsjournals.org    </li> <li>Garrido, D. and K. Gallardo. 2022. “Are Improvements in Convenience Good Enough for Consumers to Accept New Food Processing Technologies?” Agribusiness An International Journal, 38: 73-92. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21716">https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21716</a></li> <li>Goodrich, B., Kiesel, and E. Bruno 2021. Differential Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on California’s Produce and Nut Industries. Western Economics Forum 19(1): 58-74.</li> <li>Spalding, A., R.E. Goodhue, Kiesel, and Richard J. Sexton 2022. Food Safety Incidents in a Modern Agricultural Market: E. coli in the Romaine Lettuce Industry. American Journal of Agricultural Economics. 1– 27. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/ajae.12341">https://doi.org/10.1111/ajae.12341</a></li> <li>Govindasamy, R., S. Arumugam, M. Hausbeck, A. Wyenandt and J.E. Simon. The impact of downy mildew on high-value cucurbit crops in the US: an econometric analysis. (2022), Agricultural Economics Research Review: 35(1) 37-44.</li> </ol> DOI: 10.5958/0974-0279.2022.00003.9  <ol start="18"> <li>Govindasamy, R., A. Ayeni, M. Kelley, J.E. Simon, W.J. Sciarappa, R.W. Van Vranken, P. Nitzsche, B. Schilling, S.J. Komar, and S. Arumugam. Ethnic Crop Consumption and Marketing in the Eastern United States: Trends and Prospects, Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences (Forthcoming).</li> <li>Ghazaryan, A., Bonanno, and A. Carlson. 2022 “I say Milk; you say Mylk. Demand separability and substitution patterns in a broadened milk category” Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics </li> <li>Kee, J., Segovia, M.S., Saboury, P., and A. Palma. 2022. “Appealing to Altruistic Motives to Reduce Food Calorie Intake: A Natural Field Experiment.” Food Policy. (Forthcoming)."</li> <li>Knaggs, J., Pruitt, J.R., Anderson, L., and Palma. 2022. “Influence of social status, physical activity, and socio-demographics on willingness to pay for a basket of organic foods.” Agricultural and Food Economics. (Forthcoming).</li> <li>Jablonski, BBR., J. Hadrich, A. Bauman, M. Sullins, and Thilmany. 2022. The profitability implications of sales through local food markets for beginning farmers and ranchers. Agricultural Finance Review. 82(3): 559-76. <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AFR-05-2021-0056/full/html">https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AFR-05-2021-0056/full/html</a></li> <li>Jablonski, BBR., N. Key, J. Hadrich, A. Bauman, S. Campbell, Thilmany and M. Sullins. Opportunities to support beginning farmers and ranchers in the 2023 Farm Bill. Applied Economic Policy and Perspectives Special Issue on the Farm Bill. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13256">https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13256</a>. Posted March 2022.</li> <li>Krzyzanowski Guerra, K.,* A. Boys. 2022. A new food chain: An introduction and policy implications to blockchain use in agri-food industries. Applied Economic Perspectives Policy. 44(1):324-349. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13163">https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13163</a></li> <li>Kunwar, S. R. and G. Fonsah (2022). “Economic Analysis of Southern Highbush Blueberry Production Using Drip Irrigation and Frost Protection in Georgia, USA”, Journal of Extension, Vol. 60 (1), Article 11. <a href="https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.60.01.12">https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.60.01.12</a></li> <li>Hu, L., Y. Zheng, A. Woods, Y. Kusunose and Steven Buck. (2022). “The market for private food safety certifications: Conceptual framework, review, and future research directions.” Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13226</li> <li>Morgan, K.L. 25 March 2022. “Market Trends for U.S. Blueberry: Implications for Southeastern U.S. Producers.” Southern Ag Today 2(13.5). Link: https://southernagtoday.org/2022/03/market-trends-for-u-s-blueberry-implications-for-southeastern-u-s-producers/</li> <li>Morgan, K.L., Cui, and Z. Guan. 11 November 2022. “Fresh Tomato Supply Chain: Challenges in Production & Marketing” Southern Ag Today 2(46.5), link: https://southernagtoday.org/2022/11/fresh-tomato-supply-chain-challenges-in-production-marketing/</li> <li>Neuhofer, Z., B.R. McFadden, L. Rihn, H. Khachatryan, & X. Wei. (2022). “Association between visual attention to nutrition priming and subsequent beverage choice.” Food Quality and Preference. 104: 104721. Doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2022.104721">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2022.104721</a></li> <li>Nguyen, L., Gao, and J.L. Anderson. 2022. “Regulating menu information: What do consumers care and not care about at casual and fine dining restaurants for seafood consumption?” Food Policy 110:102272.</li> <li>Nian, Y., R. Zhao, S. Tian, X. Zhao, and Gao. 2022. “Economic Analysis of Grafting Organic Tomato Production in High Tunnels.” HortTechnology 32(5):459–470.</li> <li>O’Hara, Jeff, Becca Jablonski, and Zoë T. Plakias. 2022. “Which Schools Receive Statelevel Support for Local Food Purchases? Evidence from Reimbursement Incentive Programs in Michigan and Oregon.” Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems: 1-9. doi:10.1017/S1742170522000059."</li> <li>Ozkan, B., A.K. Dube., and Govindasamy, “Market Outlet Choices and their Effects on the Welfare of Smallholder Vegetable and Fruit Producers in Ethiopia”, Horticulturae, (Forthcoming).</li> <li>Rignall, K., K. Tanaka, A. Del Brocco, Velandia, C. Trejo-Pech, and N. Messer. (2022) “The practice of food justice: How food hubs negotiate racial justice in the southeastern United States.” Culture, Agriculture, Food and Environment (in press).</li> <li>Rihn, A.L., K.L. Jensen, & D.W. Hughes. (2022). “Consumer perceptions of wine quality assurance programs: An opportunity for emerging wine markets.” Sustainability. 14, 2340. doi: 10.3390/su14042340 </li> <li>Rihn, A.L., K.L. Jensen, & D.W. Hughes. (2022). “Source of quality assurance program influence on wine purchase: A multiple indicators multiple causes model analysis.” International Journal of Wine Business Research. 1751-1062. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWBR-11-2021-0060</li> <li>Rihn, A. L., Velandia, L. A. Warner, A. Fulcher, A. V. LeBude, and S. M. Schexnayder. (2022).  “Factors correlated with the propensity to use automation and mechanization by the U.S. nursery industry.”  Agribusiness: An International Journal. Doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21763">https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21763</a> </li> <li>Thilmany, D., A. Bauman, J. Hadrich, B.B.R. Jablonski and M. Sullins “Unique Financing Strategies Among Beginning Farmers and Ranchers: Differences among Multi-Generational and Beginning Operations.”Special Issue: Non-traditional Credit in the U.S. Farm Economy. Agricultural Finance Review. 82 (2): 285-309. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/AFR-05-2021-0070">https://doi.org/10.1108/AFR-05-2021-0070</a></li> <li>Thilmany, D., L. Brislen, H. Edmondson, M. Gill, B.B.R. Jablonski, S. Rocker, J. Rossi, Woods and S. Schaffstall. 2021. Novel methods for an interesting time: Exploring U.S. local food systems’ impacts and initiatives to respond to COVID. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Vol. 59.</li> <li>Torres Bravo, A. P. (2022). Exploring Firms’ Marketing Choices in the US Ornamental Horticulture Industry. Agribusiness.</li> <li>Torres Bravo, A. P. (2022). Investigating Drivers of Native Plant Production in the United States Green Industry. Sustainability </li> <li>Torres Bravo, A. P. (2022). Exploring the Adoption of Technologies Among Beginning Farmers in the Specialty Crops Industry. Agricultural Finance Review.</li> <li>Torres Bravo, A. P. (2022). Defining Diversification in the Specialty Crops Industry. Journal Food Distribution Research.</li> <li>Torres Bravo, A. P. (2021). Changes in Production Practices by Green Industry Growers from 2009 to 2019. Journal of Environmental Horticulture.</li> <li>Torres Bravo, A. P., Marshall, M. I., & Delgado, M. S. (2022). The Economic Implications of Social Capital on Hispanic Entrepreneurship. Journal of Small Business Strategy.</li> <li>Torres Bravo, A. P., Marshall, M. I., & Delgado, M. S. (2021). The Economic Implications of Social Capital on Hispanic Entrepreneurship. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 31(7), 72–87. Retrieved from <a href="https://libjournals.mtsu.edu/index.php/jsbs/index">https://libjournals.mtsu.edu/index.php/jsbs/index</a></li> <li>Torres Bravo, A. P., & Langenhoven, P. (2021). Exploring Consumers’ Preferred Purchase Location for Fresh Fruits. HortTechnology. Published.</li> <li>Trejo-Pech, C. O., Velandia, M., Tanaka, K., Rignall, K., & Billie, T. (2022). “Financial and strategic management analysis of Farmer Foodshare Inc., a nonprofit food organization.” International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.22434/IFAMR2022.0012</li> <li>Uddin, A., K. Gallardo, B.J. Rickard, J.M. Alston, O. Sambucci. 2022. Consumers willingness to accept gene edited fruit? An application to quality traits for fresh table grapes. Revised and resubmitted to Q Open: A Journal of Agricultural, Climate, Environmental, Food, Resource, and Rural Development Economics.</li> <li>Uddin, A., K. Gallardo, B.J. Rickard, J.M. Alston, O. Sambucci. 2022. Consumer acceptance of new plant-breeding technologies: An application to the use of gene editing in fresh table grapes. PLOS ONE (forthcoming).</li> <li>Wagner, K., K. Curtis, and M. Jewkes, (2022). “The Impact of Free Senior Center Farmers’ Markets During COVID-19.” Journal of the National Association of County Agriculture Agents, 15(2).</li> <li>Waliullah, S., E.G. Fonsah, J. Brock, Y. Li, and M.E. Ali (2022). First Report of Crown Rot of Banana Caused by Fusarium profliferatum in Georgia, USA. Plant Disease Journal, Vol. 106 (5).  Disease Note online: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-08-21-1809-PDN   </li> <li>Yang, C., Chen, X., Sun, J., Wei, W., Miao, W., & Gu, C. (2022). “Could Surplus Food in Blind Box Form Increase Consumers’ Purchase Intention?.” Agriculture, 12(6), 864. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12060864</li> <li>Yang, C., Chen, X., Sun, J., & Gu, C. (2022). “The Impact of Alternative Foods on Consumers’ Continuance Intention from an Innovation Perspective.” Foods, 11(8), 1167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11081167</li> <li>Yang, C., & Chen, X.1 (2022). “Factors Affecting Consumers’ Purchasing of Suboptimal Foods during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Agriculture, 12(1), 99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12010099</li> <li>Yenerall, J., K. Jensen, D. Hughes, C. Trejo-Pech, K. DeLong. “Demographics, Alcoholic Beverage Purchase Patterns, and Attitudes Driving Hard Cider Expenditure.” Journal of Food Products Marketing. 28(5), 2022.</li> <li>Yenerall, J., W. You, and J. Hill. “Trips to Food Services, Food Retailers, and its Effect on the Healthfulness of Food Purchases.” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/aae.2022.27</li> <li>Yoon, S., Gao, and L. House. 2022. Do efforts to reduce packaging waste impact preferences for meal kits? Food Quality and Preference 96:104410.</li> <li>Zare, M., and Woods (2022), “Consumer Willingness-to-pay For Local Food in Alternative Restaurant Formats”, Journal of International Food & Agribusiness Marketing, 1-22, DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08974438.2022.2084482">https://doi.org/10.1080/08974438.2022.2084482</a></li> <li>Zhang, Q. and K. Gallardo. 2022. “Measuring Consumers’ Demand for Nutrition Attributes: An Application to Ready-to-Heat Meals. Accepted for publication.” Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 1-16. doi:10.1017/age.2022.14</li> </ol>   Refereed Conference Proceedings (S-1088 members in bold) <ol> <li>Costanigro, M. and A.Gracia. 2022. “The information Content of Expert Reviews, Brands and Geographical Indications. Preliminary Experimental Evidence from Spain. European Association of Wine Economists. Vila Real, Portugal. May 2022. Conference book of abstracts.</li> <li>Curtis, K., and M. Stock, (forthcoming). “Growing a New Cut Flower Industry: Market Needs & Preferences.” Journal of Food Distribution Research, 54(1), XX.</li> <li>Curtis, K., and S. Slocum, (2022). “Firm Resiliency Post Economic Shock: A Case Study of Rural Wineries During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Journal of Food Distribution Research, 53(1), 11-18.</li> <li>Curtis, K., S. Slocum, C. Gil Arroyo, and J. Entsminger, (forthcoming). “Understanding and Enhancing Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion in Agritourism: Innovative Research and Outreach in Entrepreneurship.” Proceedings of the 2022 International Workshop on Agritourism.</li> <li>Drugova, T., and K. Curtis, (forthcoming). “The Impact of Taste Beliefs on Consumer Perceptions of Organic Specialty Bakery Products.” Journal of Food Distribution Research, 54(1), XX.</li> <li>Morgan, K.L., T. Wade, B. Hyman, G. McAvoy, C.Thissen, C. Asuaje, J. Carson, M. Bayer, and R. Davalos. 2022. 2021 UF–IFAS Farmworker Safety Training Program During Global Pandemic: Lessons Learned on How to Reduce Risks & Protect Your People. Florida State Horticultural Society Proceedings Vol. 134.</li> </ol>   Books and Book Chapters (S-1088 members in bold) <ol> <li>Bonanno, A., and M. Çakır. 2022. Supplier and retailer relationships in contemporary food markets, In Roosen, J., and Hobbs, J. (Eds.), A modern guide to food economics. Edward Elgar Publishing.</li> <li>Curtis, K., D. Tropp, and A. Hagerman, (forthcoming 2023). “Overcoming Institutional Discrimination in USDA Programmes: Food and Agricultural Tourism.” Chapter in Inclusion in tourism: Understanding institutional discrimination and bias (Ed.). London, Routledge.</li> <li>Jablonski, B.B.R., J.K. O’Hara, A. Bauman, T.M. Schmit, and D. Thilmany. 2022. Using input-output analysis to estimate the economic impacts of food system initiatives. Chapter in Food Systems Modelling.  Elsevier.</li> <li>Liang, Chyi-Lyi (Kathleen), and Z.T. Plakias. 2022. “Interdisciplinary System and Network Perspectives in Food and Agricultural Economics.” Chapter 86 in Chris Barrett and David Just (Eds.), Handbook of Agricultural Economics Vol. 6: 4705-4779. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.hesagr.2022.03.002."</li> <li>Palma, M.A. 2022. “Neuroeconomics: An Overview and Applications to Agricultural and Food Economics. The Handbook of Agricultural Economics. (Forthcoming). https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.hesagr.2022.03.007</li> <li>Peters, C. and D. Thilmany. 2022. Food Systems Modelling.  First Edition. Elsevier. Co-Editor. Paperback ISBN: 9780128221129</li> </ol>

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 02/22/2024

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 11/12/2023 - 11/12/2023
Period the Report Covers: 12/01/2022 - 11/30/2023

Participants

- Zapata, Samuel – Texas A&M, Samuel.zapata@ag.tamu.edu
- Woods, Tim – University of Kentucky, tim.woods@uky.edu
- Collart, Alba (Mississippi State), collart@agecon.msstate.edu
- Govindasamy, Ramu – Rutgers, govind@sebs.rutgers.edu
- Fonsah, Esendugue Greg – UGA, gfonsah@uga.edu
- Boys, Kathryn – NCSU, kaboys@ncsu.edu
- Gallardo, Karina – Washington State (Virtual attendee),
karina_gallardo@wsu.edu
- Sterns, James – Oregon State (Virtual attendee), jasterns@oregonstate.edu
- Torres Bravo, Ariana P (Purdue), torres2@purdue.edu
- Jablonski, Becca (Representing Dawn Thilmany) – Colorado State, becca.jablonski@colostate.edu and Dawn.thilmany@colostate.edu
- Wechsler, Seth J. (USDA, ERS), seth.wechsler@usda.gov
- Huang, Kuan-Ming (MSU), kmh1169@msstate.edu

Participants Attachment:

2023- Fonsah-3-S1088 Annual Report-02-22.pdf

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

2023- Fonsah-3-S1088 Annual Report-02-22.pdf

Accomplishments

SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES During the 2022/2023 reporting period, our group successfully made significant contributions to research, outreach, and Extension outputs covering our three main objectives.  For instance, members of our group continue to provide updated farm management information to growers across the states through risk-rated enterprise budgets, marketing, trade and policy of the Specialty Crops Industry.  These analysis helps farmers navigate difficult economic times and help them stay in business. Members continue to provide needed information to policymakers and general public on the impacts on the specialty crop industry, the impacts on consumers of new applications of plant breeding technologies (CRISPR applications to livestock and cranberries, irradiation use as postharvest treatments in apples), and on impact of climate change incidence on pest recurrence (conventional and organic apples).  We provided information on local foods and cut flower marketing, farmers’ markets and agritourism, fact sheets and webpage on organic wheat research, including extension and outreach materials. In addition, we provided a new calculator to help growers make the connection between economic contributions to produce markets and public health initiatives, with a specific focus on the GUSNIP program and a third round of a post-COVID consumer survey. <h1> </h1>  OUTPUTS AND DISSEMINATION Outreach/industry Presentations:   <ol> <li>Ajani, E. K., M. Halwart, B. Omitoyin, A. Bart, O. Ajayi, X. Yuan, A. Stankus, G. Burtle, K. Kareem, G. Fonsah, B. Oduntan, G. Leramo, Y. M. Abubakar, J. C. Ikwuemesi, L. A. Argungu (2023). “Apparent Digestibility Coefficients of By-Products in Integrated Rice and Fish Farming (Rice Bran and Fish Offal Meal) Fed to the African Catfish, Clarias Gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) and Oreochromis Niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) Juveniles”.  Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish Final Annual Meeting, Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette, French Quarter Area Hotel, February 27-March 01.</li> <li>Bonanno, A. Farm to School Programming in the US: Some Definitions, Data and Outcomes. Part of the C-FARE webinar. Food Hubs and Farm to School:  Policy and Impact Across the Food System. October 2023 <a href="https://www.cfare.org/items/foodhubsandfarmtoschool">https://www.cfare.org/items/foodhubsandfarmtoschool</a></li> <li>Bauman A. and Thilmany. GusNIP NTAE Nutrition Incentive Economic Impact Calculator.  August 2023. https://www.nutritionincentivehub.org/resources/economic-impact-calculator.  With funding and collaboration with The Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information Center (NTAE), supported by Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.</li> <li>Centinari, M., Kelley, K. M., Hickey, C., Hed, B. (March 2, 2023). "Grapevine Growth Stage Dynamics Across the Commonwealth," 2023 Pennsylvania Grape and Wine Industry Conference, State College, PA, Invited.</li> <li>Christensen, L. and Thilmany. The Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center: Connecting, Strengthening, and Scaling Food Supply Chains in the Mountain and Northwest. Presentation to Colorado Economic Development Council of Colorado.  June 2023. Online.</li> <li>Curtis, K (2023). Organic Strawberry Growers Meeting (Adults); (December); Zoom Webinar; 15 participants</li> <li>Curtis, K (2023). Food and Agritourism Opportunities (Conference, Adults); (March); Provo, UT; 36 participants</li> <li>Curtis, K (2023). Organic Wheat Growers Meeting (Adults); February; Zoom Webinar; 16 participants</li> <li>Curtis, K (2023). Agency Programs Utah Small and Urban Farms Conference (Workshop/Training, Adults); February; Online; 78 participants</li> <li>Curtis, K (2023). Cut Flower Session Utah Small and Urban Farms Conference (Workshop/Training, Adults); February; Online; 120 participants</li> <li>Curtis, K and C. Salvi (2023). Determining Factors of Wine Industry Resiliency: A Covid-19 Case Study. </li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. (2023). “Economic Update: Increasing Input Prices, Supply Chain Disruptions, Global Competitiveness and Trade Policies Affecting the Vegetable Industry”. Presented at the Southeast Regional Fruits and Vegetable Conference, Savannah, GA, USA, January 07. (~100 participants).</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. (2023). “Impacts of Satsuma Citrus Production Amidst Increasing Input Costs”. Presented at the Southeast Regional Fruits and Vegetable Conference, Savannah, GA, USA, January 06. (~100 participants).</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. (2023). “Fruits and Tree Nuts Outlook” Georgia Ag-Forecast, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Virtual Presentation.</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. (2023). “Vegetables and Pulses Outlook” Georgia Ag-Forecast, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Virtual Presentation.</li> <li>Fonsah, E. (2023). “Introduction to Banana Production in Georgia and the Southeast Region”, Ag Field Day & 4H Worth County High School, Sylvester, GA (Phase 1).</li> <li>Fonsah, E. (2023). Introduction to Banana Production in Georgia and the Southeast Region”.  Approved Independent ANR Extension Training, #024650, University of Georgia, Tifton, Campus (Feb 16 & 23).</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G., (2023). Building Modern Farms: Value Chain, Integration Technologies and Sustainability Model”, Agripreneurship: The Key to Africa’s Transformation. 2023 Joint Strategic Transformation and Empowerment Hybrid Conference, Watbridge Hotels and Suite, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria (Oct., 26).</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. (2023). “New Requirements for Crops Budgets”. UGA-ANR Vegetable Training. Tifton Campus Conference Center.  ~20 participants.</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. (2023). “Introduction to Banana Production in Georgia and the Southwest Region”. Ag Field Day & 4-H Student Expo Training: The Village Community Garden, Sylvester, GA.  ~150 participants.</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. (2023). “Introduction to Banana Production in Georgia and the Southwest Region”. Approved Independent ANR Extension Training # SES-024650 (Feb, 23).  ~15 participants.</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. (2023). “Introduction to Banana Production in Georgia and the Southwest Region”. Approved Independent ANR Extension Training # SES-024650 (Feb, 16).  ~15 participants.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K., S.P. Galinato. 2023. “Production Costs Update for Organic Gala and Honeycrisp Apples.” Annual Meetings of the Washington Tree Fruit Association. Kennewick, WA. December 7. N. Participants =100.</li> <li>Galinato, S.P., R. Gallardo. 2023. “Overview of the Updated Fresh-Market Pear Enterprise Budgets: Anjou and Bartlett.” Annual Meetings of the Washington Tree Fruit Association. Kennewick, WA. December 6. N. Participants =80.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K., Charlton, S. Devadoss, J. Luckstead, and S. Vougioukas. 2023. “Economic Viability of Robotic Fruit Harvesters to Reduce Large Seasonal Labor Demands.” Annual Meetings of the Washington Tree Fruit Association. Kennewick, WA. December 5. N. Participants =120.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K.,P. Galinato. “Sweet Cherry Cost of Production Updates.” <ol start="13"> <li>2023 Cherry Institute. January 13. N. Participants= 100.</li> </ol> </li> <li>Gallardo, R.K. 2023. “How Much does it Cost to Prevent Sweet Cherries Western X-En Español.” <ol start="13"> <li>Wilbur Ellis Grower Conference. January 13. N. Participants=45.</li> </ol> </li> <li>Gallardo, R.K. “Consumers’ Acceptance of Gene-Edited Table Grapes.” Presentation at the Virtual Workshop Harnessing Genome Editing Technologies for Viticulture.” Organized by the Agriculture and Food Systems Institute, USDA. May 29. N. Participants=70.</li> <li>Gill, M., Thilmany and L. Christensen. 2023. Consumers' Online Shopping: What Drives Online Usage in Various Market Channels. Local Food System Response to COVID Series CFI-2.06.  January 2023.  https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> <li>Halwart, M., O. Ajayi, X. Yuan, A. Stankus, E. K. Ajani, B. O. Omitoyin, A. Bart, G. Fonsah, G. Burtle, K. Kareem, B. Oduntan, Y.M. Abubakar, N. Innes-Taylor, C. Sirimanotham, K. Li, J. Li, J. C. Ikwuemesi, L. A. Argungu, T. Ogunkoya, J. I. Fasakin (2023). “Can the Diversification of Rice Farming with Fish Support Communities and Countries in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals?  Insights from Nigeria, Lao PDR and P.R. China.  Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish Final Annual Meeting, Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette, French Quarter Area Hotel, Feb. 27-March 01. </li> <li>Jones, K. and Thilmany. RFPs, IDCs, and SOWs. Navigating (and Flourishing in) the Complex World of Grant Writing, Reporting and Project Management. Presentation to the 2023 CSU Ag Extension Forum.  Fort Collins CO. September 2023.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M. (2023). "The Beverage Update." All in FoodZ Podcast Series, Food Decisions Research Laboratory, School of Hospitality Management, Penn State. (Podcast)</li> <li>Kelley, K. M. (November 8, 2023). "Using emotion to connect with wine consumers," Southeastern United Grape & Wine Symposium, Surry Community College, Dobson, NC, 120 in attendance, Invited. State. Keynote.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M. (August 11, 2023). "2023 Alcohol Consumption and Purchasing Trends," Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Alcohol Education Conference, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Harrisburg, PA, 160 in attendance, Invited. State. Keynote.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M., Govindsamy, R., Albano, D., Falcone, L., Kelly, M., Schmidt, C., Sharma, A., Li, J., Gomez, M. (November 13, 2023). "Connecting with Pennsylvania winery tasting rooms to understand the current challenges to winery tasting room owners and operators," Food Distribution Research Society, Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. National.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M. (August 14, 2023). "Wine Marketing and E-commerce," Rutgers Grape and Wine Science Certification Program, Rutgers, New Brunswick, NJ, 15 in attendance, Invited. State.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M., Schmidt, C. (March 13, 2023). "Wine consumer and tasting room research update," 2023 Pennsylvania Winery Association Annual Business Meeting, Lancaster, PA, Invited.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M. (June 1, 2023). "Using emotion to engage and build a connection with your customers," Winery Tasting Room Training, Penn State Extension, Mifflinburg, PA, 25 in attendance, Invited. Regional.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M. (March 30, 2023). "Using emotion to engage and build a connection with your customers," Winery Tasting Room Training, Penn State Extension, State College, PA, 88 in attendance, Invited. Regional.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M., Schmidt, C. (February 1, 2023). "Food Trends 2023," Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention, Hershey, PA, 100 in attendance, Invited. Regional.</li> <li>Omitoyin, B. O., M. Halwart, E. K. Ajani, A. Bart, O. Ajayi, X. Yuan, A. Stankus, G. Burtle, K. Kareem, G. Fonsah, B. Oduntan, O. O. Taiwo, Y. M. Abubakar, J. C. Ikwuemesi and L. A. Argungu (2023). “Assessment of Water Utilization, Water Quality and Nutrient in Integrated Rice-Fish Farming. Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish Final Annual Meeting, Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette, French Quarter Area Hotel, February 27-March 01.</li> <li>Parks, C., A. Bauman and Thilmany. GusNIP NTAE Nutrition Incentive Economic Impact Calculator Webinar. Hosted by the Gretchen Swanson Center. August 2023.  Posted at: https://www.nutritionincentivehub.org/resources/economic-impact-calculator</li> <li>Ross, C., A. Colonna, R.K. Gallardo, M.L. Montero. “Pear Consumer Preference Testing.” <ol start="2023"> <li>Presentation at the Pear Day-North Central Washington Tree Fruit Days. January 19, 2023. N. participants=120 online, 99 in-person.</li> </ol> </li> <li>Schmidt, C., Kelley, K. M., Centinari, M., Hickey, C., Leach, H. (March 2, 2023). "Gauging the Economic Impact of Spotted Lanternfly for Grape Growers & Wineries," 2023 Pennsylvania Grape and Wine Industry Conference, State College, PA, Invited.</li> <li>Sullins, M. and Thilmany (2023). Overview of strategic marketing: consumer trends, differentiation and choosing your markets. Presentation to the 2023 Colorado Beginning Farmers Program. January 2023. Online</li> <li>Thilmany, D. (2023). Market Data: How to use Data in your Marketing Strategy.  Colorado Proud Webinar Series.  <a href="https://ag.colorado.gov/markets/colorado-proud.%20August%202023">https://ag.colorado.gov/markets/colorado-proud. August 2023</a></li> <li>Thilmany, D. (2023). How to Connect with The Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center: WEC Meeting at 2023 WAEA/CAES Annual Meeting.  Virtual presentation. July 2023</li> <li>Thilmany, D. (2023). Developing a Great Marketing Plan and How to Implement it!  Colorado Proud Webinar Series.  https://ag.colorado.gov/markets/colorado-proud. June.</li> <li>Thilmany, D., T. Lipetzky and J. Cable (2023). Key Finding from the 2022 Public Perceptions & Attitudes About Colorado Agriculture Survey. Presentation to the CSU President’s Ag Advisory Council. Ma 2023. Fort Collins CO.</li> <li>Thilmany, D. and M. Sullins (2023). Overview of the 2022 Colo Public Attitudes Survey. Presentation to the High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety Team. Online. May 2023.</li> <li>Thilmany, D., Sullins and J. Cable. (2022) Colorado Public Attitudes Survey: Exploring Trends Important to Specialty Crops and Local Markets. Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association webinar. March 2023. Posted at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bET-BTd1Bys</li> <li>Thilmany, D. Building Colorado’s Food Policy. Panel at the Colorado Ag Outlook Forum, February 2023. Westminster, CO.</li> <li>Thilmany, D. (2023). Exploring the Dynamics of Colorado’s Ag and Food Producers and Industry. Presentation to the Colorado Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference. What's Next? Who's Next?  February 2023.  Fort Collins CO.</li> <li>Thilmany, D. Budgets as a Tool for Decision Making: Tools and Strategies to help you measure financial aspects of your farm/ranch. Presentation to the 2023 Colorado Beginning Farmers Program. February 2023. Online</li> </ol>  Theses and Dissertation Completed/Supervised/Examined:   <ol> <li>Essilfie Felix Larry (2023).  Rice Varietal Seed Technology Adoption on Improving Productivity and Household Welfare, Northern Region, Ghana.  Unpublished PhD Dissertation, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana, West Africa.  Fonsah, E.G. (External Examiner).</li> <li>Iddrisu Saani Nassam (2023).  Demand for and Profitability of Investing in Processed Mushrooms in Ghana.  Unpublished PhD Dissertation, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana, West Africa. Fonsah, E.G. (External Examiner).</li> <li>Issah Mohammed Amin Kurli (2023).  Impact of Integrated Soil Fertility Management on the Welfare of Maize Farm Households in the Kumbungu District.  Unpublished Master’s Thesis, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana, West Africa. Fonsah, E.G. (External Examiner).</li> <li>Manandhar, Grishma, 2023. “Autonomous Agent-Based Electricity Trading in a Grid-Connected Microgrid.” Ph.D. Dissertation in Economics, Washington State University supervised by Gallardo, R.K (Supervisor).</li> <li>Papa Kofi Arhin (2023).  Farmers’ Willingness to Pay for Forest Ecosystem Conservation in Ahanta West District of Ghana.  Unpublished Master’s Thesis, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana, West Africa.  Fonsah, E.G. (External Examiner).</li> </ol>   State, Station, or Agency Presentations (S-1088 members in bold)   <ol> <li>Ajani, E. K., M. Halwart, B. Omitoyin, A. Bart, O. Ajayi, X. Yuan, A. Stankus, G. Burtle, K. Kareem, G. Fonsah, B. Oduntan, G. Leramo, Y. M. Abubakar, J. C. Ikwuemesi, L. A. Argungu (2023). “Apparent Digestibility Coefficients of By-Products in Integrated Rice and Fish Farming (Rice Bran and Fish Offal Meal) Fed to the African Catfish, Clarias Gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) and Oreochromis Niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) Juveniles”.  Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish Final Annual Meeting, Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette, French Quarter Area Hotel, February 27-March 01.</li> <li>Baker, Q., P. Canning, S. Rehkamp, M. Gill, A. Bonanno, and Thilmany. Assessing Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on the U.S. Macro Food Economy: February 2020 to December 2021.  Presentation to 2023 ASTAR workshop.  USDA Economic Research Service. Washington DC. July 2023.</li> <li>Bumgarner, N., D. Lockwood, L. Rihn (2023). Integrating Sensory Evaluations in Cultivar Selection for Small-scale Small Fruit Growers. ASHS Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, July 31 - Aug. 4, 2023.</li> <li>Byrne, A., K. Marchesi, M. Gill, E.M Pelli, W. Sinclair, K. Harris-Lagoudakis and Thilmany. The New Era of Food: Short- and Long-term Changes in the Food System After COVID-19. Organized Symposia selected for the 2023 AAEA Annual Meetings. Washington DC, July 2023.</li> <li>Curtis, K. (2023). “Role of Women in the Drink Tourism Industry and Associated Impacts on Rural Economic Development.” Selected presentation at the National Extension Tourism Network Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI, September.</li> <li>Curtis, K., (2022) and M. Stock, “Growing a New Cut Flower Industry: Market Needs & Preferences.” Selected paper presented at the Food Distribution Research Society Annual Meeting, Pensacola, FL, October.</li> <li>Drugova, T., and Curtis, (2022). “The Impact of Taste Beliefs on Consumer Perceptions of Organic Specialty Bakery Products.” Selected paper presented at the Food Distribution Research Society Annual Meeting, Pensacola, FL, October 2022.</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. (2023). “Economic Update: Increasing Input Prices, Supply Chain Disruptions, Global Competitiveness and Trade Policies Affecting the Vegetable Industry”. Presented at the Southeast Regional Fruits and Vegetable Conference, Savannah, GA, USA, January 07. (~100 participants).</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G. (2023). “Impacts of Satsuma Citrus Production Amidst Increasing Input Costs”. Presented at the Southeast Regional Fruits and Vegetable Conference, Savannah, GA, USA, January 06. (~100 participants).</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G., (2023). Building Modern Farms: Value Chain, Integration Technologies and Sustainability Model”, Agripreneurship: The Key to Africa’s Transformation. 2023 Joint Strategic Transformation and Empowerment Hybrid Conference, Watbridge Hotels and Suite, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria (Oct., 26).</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G., (2023). “Agricultural Community Models”, Panel Discussion: The Key to Africa’s Transformation. 2023 Joint Strategic Transformation and Empowerment Hybrid Conference, Watbridge Hotels and Suite, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria (Oct., 26) ~ 100 participants.</li> <li>Gerloff, S., L. Rihn. (2023). Consumer Preferences for Flatheaded Borer Control Measures in Maple Trees, Blueberry Bushes, Apples, and Blueberries. Flatheaded Borer Multistate Extension Agent Training. March 30, 2023, virtual.</li> <li>Gill, M., A. Bonanno, and Thilmany. How did pandemic-era shift in consumer expenditures vary across retailer types? Evidence from counterfactual COVID-19 scenarios.  Paper for Organized Symposia Supply Chain Resilience in the Agri-Food Sector.  Organized by J. Hobbs. 2023 Joint CAES/SCAE-WAEA Annual Meeting. Whistler BC, July 2023.</li> <li>Govindasamy, R., Bayramoglu, Z., Aziz, S., Soysal, U., and Vellangany, I. (November 13, 2023). " Analysis of Factors Affecting Local Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Purchases," Food Distribution Research Society, Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. National.</li> <li>Halwart, M., O. Ajayi, X. Yuan, A. Stankus, E. K. Ajani, B. O. Omitoyin, A. Bart, G. Fonsah, E. G. Burtle, K. Kareem, B. Oduntan, Y.M. Abubakar, N. Innes-Taylor, C. Sirimanotham, K. Li, J. Li, J. C. Ikwuemesi, L. A. Argungu, T. Ogunkoya, J. I. Fasakin (2023). “Can the Diversification of Rice Farming with Fish Support Communities and Countries in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals?  Insights from Nigeria, Lao PDR and P.R. China.  Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish Final Annual Meeting, Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette, French Quarter Area Hotel, Feb. 27-March 01. </li> <li>Kelley, K. M., Govindasamy, R., Albano, D., Falcone, L., Kelly, M., Schmidt, C., Sharma, A., Li, J., & Gomez, M. (November 13, 2023). "Connecting with Pennsylvania winery tasting rooms to understand the current challenges to winery tasting room owners and operators," Food Distribution Research Society, Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. National.</li> <li>Pope, J.I., S.R. Givens, S.P. Armstrong, Rihn, N. Bumgarner, K.J. Walters. 2023. Light Intensity Affects Biomass and Anthocyanin Accumulation in Microgreens. University of Tennessee Discovery Day, Knoxville, TN, September 12, 2023. Poster.</li> <li>Rihn, A.L., Walters, N. Bumgarner. 2023. Tennesseans Preferences for Locally Grown Microgreens. ASHS Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, July 31 - Aug. 4, 2023.</li> <li>Rihn, A.L. Consumer Preferences for Farmers Markets. Tennessee Farmers Market Bootcamp, virtual, January 31, 2023.</li> <li>Rihn, A.L.,W. Hughes, & K. Jensen. 2023. Consumer Perceptions of Tennessee Wine. Pick Tennessee Conference, Franklin, TN, February 17, 2023.</li> <li>Rihn, A.L. Economic Update: State of the Green Industry. UTIA Green Industry Field Day, July 27, 2023, Knoxville, TN.</li> <li>Thilmany, D. (presenting on behalf of USDA AMS COVID team). Diversifying Market Channels: Changing Priorities for Food Consumers and Policymakers. Keynote to the Extension Risk Management Education annual meetings. Chicago IL. March 2023.</li> <li>Torres, A.P. (2023). Market Opportunities for Small Grains. AAEA Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.</li> <li>Torres, A.P. (2023). The Use of Social Media by the US Green Industry. IFAMA, New Zealand.</li> <li>Torres, A.P. (2023). Top Social Media Strategies for Smaller Farms. Purdue Food Safety Webinar Series.</li> <li>Torres, A.P. (2023). #Diverse Corn Belt: Enhancing Rural Resilience Through Landscape Diversity. Purdue Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department, West Lafayette, IN</li> <li>Torres, A.P. (2023). What to Expect in 2023? Main Trends in Agriculture. Indiana Green Expo. Indianapolis, IN</li> <li>Torres, A.P. (2023). Emerging Customer and Industry Trends in a Post COVID-19 World. Indiana Horticultural Congress. Indianapolis, IN</li> <li>Torres, A.P. (2023). The Economics of State-Branded Foods. Indiana Grown Webinar</li> <li>Torres, AP. (2023). Results from the Purdue Mint Grower Survey. Purdue IPM Webinar Series.</li> <li>Torres, A.P. (2023). Hort-Calculator: A Tool to Make Sense of Investments. Indiana Small Farm Conference. Indianapolis, IN.</li> <li>Ulloa MC, Torres, A.P. (2023). Profiling the US Market for Salad Mixes. IFAMA, New Zealand.</li> <li>Velandia, M. and Rihn. (2023). Factors Correlated with the Propensity to Use Automation. The Human Side of Technology Adoption in Tree Crops: Research and Producer Perspectives session. 2023 AI in Agriculture: Innovation and Discovery to Equitably Meet Producers Needs and Perceptions. Orlando, FL; April 17-19, 2023.</li> </ol>   Milestones  The following important milestones were achieved in providing long-term positive societal impact during this reporting period:  We were successful in securing a new USDA Regional Food Business Center grant with Oregon State, Washington State, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana State respectively.  Our developed enterprise budgets were useful in providing sensitivity and financial information vis-à-vis fluctuating prices and impact on selected enterprises.  Our total household food waste from grocery stores research provided policymakers additional insights into policy and programs to address food waste at home challenges.  Our Covid-19 pandemic studies where the federal government allowed SNAP participant to purchase groceries online using their EBT card provided an understanding on how low-income and low-access households’ value online grocery shopping and the barriers they face will be instrumental to policymakers in developing programs aimed at improving the adoption of online grocery shopping and encourage purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Our work was also assisted policymakers in designing policies on how fruits and vegetable farmers make decisions about the adoption of biodegradable mulches to reduce plastic pollution associated with the use of polyethylene mulches.  Our research results provided information instrumental in promoting policies that would ensure public well-being, affordable healthy foods, and the long-term economic profitability of specialty crop industries including sharing results from Covid-based projects.  Additionally, our group collaborated with colleagues at the USDA ERS in comparing food expenditures during COVID with estimated counterfactual expenditures in a no-COVID scenario, across outlets and channels, and throughout the different phases of the pandemic.  Research on the economic implications of farm-to-school programming has resulted in two manuscripts in different stages of the peer review process, and in an outreach, webinar organized by C-FARE. Intended Potential Long-Term Outcomes and Impacts The S-1088 Team members are committed to achieving long-term impacts for the benefit of society through our research, outreach, and Extension.  The potential long-term outcomes and impacts are highlight by the intended by objectives/activities. Activity (Organized and specific functions or duties carried out by individuals or teams using the scientific method to reveal new knowledge and develop new understanding. Example: Analyze by constructing an expected profit function the likely profits to be accrued by adopting a mechanical harvester.)   On a broader scale, the members were engaged in different activities aimed at producing the following reported research, outreach and extension outputs.  For instance, we successfully developed sensitivity risk-rated enterprise budgets which depicted the changes in input costs (e.g., variable costs, harvesting and marketing costs, and fixed costs) respectively and how these volatile prices affected profit margins of growers.  The budgets provided information needed by the farmers for their day-to-day farm management and decisions on crops to be planted.  The budgets were also needed to obtain loans and were utilized by financial institutions, farm credit bureaus, various states’ Department of Agriculture and some congressional offices.  Members also worked on policy issues plaguing the fruits and vegetable industry and providing solutions on how to cope during the covid-19 pandemic and trade wars with major importers like China.    We collected data from households regarding their food shopping behaviors and household food waste. The survey instrument used to measure household food waste differentiated between fruit and vegetable, protein, and starch waste and we were able to determine the relationship between household time use, food waste quantities, and the value of their food waste.  We collected online and telephone survey to determine how households that are food insecure or live in limited access food environments value attributes of online grocery shopping (OGS) services.  We also investigated if households' self-reported use of or barriers to using online grocery influenced their valuation of online grocery shopping attributes such as delivery speed and window, refund policy, and hypothetical programs such as a certified picker and protective produce packaging that are designed to encourage the purchasing of fruits and vegetables online.  These preference online investigations were useful in quantifying different OGS attributes and suggestions for promoting more healthy eating habits and alleviating food security issues.  In addition, our group investigated promotional content such as the Pick TN Products (PTP) logo to encourage the purchasing of local goods and determine consumer consumption and responses to branding messages, including human imagery or local benefit. We also conducted a case study of wine incubators in Walla Walla, WA, and Wamego, KS.  We collaborated with the Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology to investigate the potential of converting carbon-neutral crops to sustainable consumer goods, building a diverse Agri-science workforce, and reviving rural economies, using causal modeling to build an economic evaluation system to evaluate the impact of potential bioproducts and consumer responses to the new sustainable products and marketing of the new products across the states.   Our team also  designed four online surveys to assess US consumer valuation of, and acceptance of domestically produced fresh culinary herbs. Understanding the current US marketplace aids in aligning product offerings and point-of-sale communications, which is expected to encourage the consumption of these culinary herbs. More-so, we developed a protocol to understand how farmers perceive soil plastic pollution's impact on soil health, yield, productivity and how these perceptions translate into decisions related to the use of polythene and biodegradable mulches.  To mitigate challenges related to assessing the long-term impact of soil plastic pollution and its impact on soil productivity, a protocol to collect soil samples and information gathering from existing farms using polyethylene mulches for several years was conducted and analyzed. SUGGESTED DRAFTED PROPOSAL FOR 2024 [Background Note – On Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, during the annual meeting of the Multi-State Research Committee, S-1088, Specialty Crops and Food Systems: Exploring Markets, Supply Chains and Policy, the group discussed several potential avenues for collaboration among participants. The following proposal reflects one of the suggestions made during this discussion.]  Draft as of Nov. 27, 2024  Proposed Organized Symposium to be included in a Track Session for AAEA 2004 Meetings, New Orleans, LA.  To be submitted jointly by the Specialty Crops Section and the BEER Section within their Track Session Proposals.  Session Title: U.S. Wine Sector Resiliency – Evaluating Responses to a Litany of Challenges: Wildfire Smoke, Pandemic Restrictions, and Climate Change  Format:  Three presentations about strategies for pursuing economic resiliency of U.S. wine grape growers and wine makers; one additional speaker to serve as moderator and discussant. Summary of Session: Looking beyond the traditional economic model of firms as units of production that combine labor and capital, this organized symposium provides examples of how a firm’s and an industry’s resiliency contributes to their economic viability.  Papers and Presenters: Title: Determining Factors of Wine Industry Resiliency: A Covid-19 Case Study Presenter: Kynda Curtis, Professor, Utah State University, <a href="mailto:kynda.curtis@usu.edu">kynda.curtis@usu.edu</a>   Co-Author: Camillo Salvi, Graduate Research Assistant, Utah State University Title: Responding to Wildfires and Smoke Exposure in California’s Wine Industry through Contracting and Crop Insurance Presenter: Jaclyn Kropp, Professor, University of Florida, <a href="mailto:jkropp@ufl.edu">jkropp@ufl.edu</a>   Title: Strategic Agility in the Oregon Wine Industry in Response to a Cascade of Challenges and Market Shocks Presenter: James Sterns, Oregon State University, <a href="mailto:jasterns@oregonstate.edu">jasterns@oregonstate.edu</a> Moderator/Discussant: Tim Wood, University of Kentucky, <a href="mailto:tim.woods@uky.edu">tim.woods@uky.edu</a> Corresponding Organizer for this proposal – James Sterns, <a href="mailto:jasterns@oregonstate.edu">jasterns@oregonstate.edu</a>, 541.737.1406

Publications

State, Station, or Agency Publications (S-1088 members in bold)     <ol> <li>Curtis, K, and N. Chin (2023). Building Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion in Tourism Outreach. NET Publication. Online at: <a href="https://extensiontourism.net/building-diversity-equity-access-and-inclusion-deai-in-tourism-outreach/">https://extensiontourism.net/building-diversity-equity-access-and-inclusion-deai-in-tourism-outreach/</a></li> <li>Fonsah, E. G.,R. Kunwar, R. Allen, J. Jacobs and S. Curry (2023). “Southern High Bush Blueberry Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. <a href="http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html">http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</a></li> <li>Fonsah, E. G., Wells, W. Hudson and D. Collins (2023). “Pecan Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia.</li> <li>Fonsah, E. G., Price and B. Cantrell (2023). “Satsuma – 50/50 Fresh/Processed Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. <a href="http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html">http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</a></li> <li>Fonsah, E.G., Shealey, J. Kichler and S. Carlson (2023). “Bell pepper Enterprise Budget”. Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia.   <a href="http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html">http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</a></li> <li>Fonsah, E. G. and C. Tyson (2023). “Onions Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia.  <a href="http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html">http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</a></li> <li>Fonsah, E.G., and J. Shealey (2023). “Squash- Double Cropped Enterprise Budget”.   Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia.  <a href="http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html">http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</a></li> <li>Fonsah, E.G., and J. Shealey (2023). “Squash – Bare Ground Enterprise Budget”.   Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia.  <a href="http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html">http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</a></li> <li>Fonsah, E.G., and J. Shealey (2023). “Sweet Corn Enterprise Budget in Georgia” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia.  <a href="http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html">http://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</a></li> <li>Fulcher, A., L. Rihn, L. A. Warner, A. V. LeBude, M. Velandia, N. R. Bumgarner, and S. M. Schexnayder. 2023.  The Role of Automation in Addressing the Nursery Industry Labor Shortage, Part I: Current Automation Adoption.  UT Extension Publication, W1147 (Collaboration with University of Florida and North Carolina State University).</li> <li>Fulcher, A., L. Rihn, L.A. Warner, A.V. LeBude, M. Velandia, N. Bumgarner, and S. Schexnayder. 2023. From Chasing to Solving Labor Scarcity, Part I: Current Automation Adoption by the US Nursery Industry. Tennessee Green Times. 24(1):10-15.</li> <li>Fulcher, A., L. Rihn, L.A. Warner, A.V. LeBude, M. Velandia, N. Bumgarner, and S. Schexnayder. 2023. From Chasing to Solving Labor Scarcity, Part II: Advances in Automation within Tasks for Field Production. Tennessee Green Times. 24(2):18-22.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K., Galinato, and G. Hoheisel. “2022 Cost Estimates of Establishing and Producing Organic “Duke” Blueberries in Eastern Washington” – Washington State University Extension Bulletin TB28E, November 2023.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K., Galinato, and G. Hoheisel. “2022 Cost Estimates of Establishing and Producing Organic “Elliot” Blueberries in Eastern Washington” – Washington State University Extension Bulletin TB96E, November 2023.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K., Galinato, and C. Benedict. “2022 Cost Estimates of Producing and Packing Conventional “Duke” Blueberries in Western Washington” – Washington State University Extension Bulletin TB94E, October 2023.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K., Galinato, and C. Benedict. “2022 Cost Estimates of Producing and Packing Conventional “Draper” Blueberries in Western Washington” – Washington State University Extension Bulletin TB93E, September 2023.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K. and S. Galinato. “2022 Cost Estimates of Producing and Packing Organic Honeycrisp Apples in Washington” – Washington State University Extension Bulletin TB91E, May 2023.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K. and S. Galinato. “2022 Cost Estimates of Producing and Packing Organic Gala Apples in Washington” – Washington State University Extension Bulletin TB19E, May 2023.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M., & Schmidt, C. (2023). "Impact of the Pandemic on Wine Consumption and Winery Visitation Trends - Part 4." Penn State Extension.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M. (2023). "Using Emotion to Engage Alcoholic Beverage Consumers." Penn State Extension.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M., & Schmidt, C. (2023). "Impact of the Pandemic on Wine Consumption and Winery Visitation Trends - Part 3." Penn State Extension.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M., & Schmidt, C. (2023). "Impact of the Pandemic on Wine Consumption and Winery Visitation Trends - Part 2." Penn State Extension.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M., & Schmidt, C. (2023). "Impact of the Pandemic on Wine Consumption and Winery Visitation Trends." Penn State Extension.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M. (2023). "Winery Tasting Room Customer Journey Mapping." Penn State Extension.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M. (2023). "Alcoholic Beverage Consumption Statistics and Trends 2023." Penn State Extension.</li> <li>Kelley, K. M., & Schmidt, C. (2023). "Food Trends 2023." Penn State Extension. ste Ratings? USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2023-03pr.</li> <li>Rihn, A.L., Knuth, B.K. Behe, and C.R. Hall. Marketing Plants to Engage the Conscientious Consumer. Green Profits. March 2023. https://www.greenprofit.com/Article/?articleid=26191</li> <li>Rihn, A. (2023). The Benefits of Marketing Food-Producing Plants as Local. E-GRO Alert, Vol. 8, No. 8. 4/21/2023. https://www.e-gro.org/pdf/E808.pdf</li> <li>Rihn, A., and A. Fulcher. 2022. Employment in the Green Industry: A Labor of Love. Tennessee Green Times. 12(3): 16-18.</li> <li>Rihn, A. (2023). "The Eye Eats Before the Mouth, but What Attracts Customers?" e-GRO Blog post on 10/26/2023. <a href="https://www.egroblog.com/showblog.php?ID=211">https://www.egroblog.com/showblog.php?ID=211</a></li> </ol>       Refereed Journal Articles (S-1088 members in bold)   <ol> <li>Bimbo, F., A Bonanno, R Viscecchia (2023). Geographical indications' prices and marketing margins: the role of group size, longevity and production decisions British Food Journal 125 (1), 286-301</li> <li>Bonanno, A., M. Gill and Thilmany. Was it Real? Decomposing Pandemic U.S. Food Expenditures Changes Using Counterfactuals. Working paper to be submitted to the Journal of the Ag and Applied Economics Association. </li> </ol> <ol> <li>Brumfield, R., D. Greenwood, M. Flahive DiNardo, A.J. Both, J. R. Heckman, R. Govindasamy, N. Polanin, A.A. Rouff, A. Rowe, R. VanVranken, and S. Arumugam. A Risk Management Training Program Designed to Empower Urban Women Farmers. (2023), HortScience: 1291–1296.  <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17305-23">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17305-23</a></li> </ol> <ol start="4"> <li>Badruddoza, , Amin, M.D. and McCluskey, J., (2023). “Impact of Food Retailers’ Presence and Composition on Nutritional Equity and Health Outcomes in the United States with Machine Learning”. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 55(7), pp.108-109.</li> <li>Cariou, P. R.A. Halim, and B.J. Rickard. (20230. Ship-owner response to carbon taxes: Industry and environmental implications. Ecological Economics 212(October), Article 107917. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2023.107917</li> <li>Chen, J., Lai, J., Chen, X., & Gao, Z. (2023). “Effects of Shared Characteristics between Eco‐labels: A Case for Organic and Local Food.” International Journal of Consumer Studies, 47(1), 285-298. (Collaboration with the University of Florida). DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12835">https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12835</a></li> <li>Denton, R., Velandia, J. N. Yenerall, K. L. DeLong, C. Trejo-Pech, X. Chen, K. Tanaka, K. Rignall, and S. M. Schexnayder.  2023. “Evaluating Factors Influencing Tennessee and Kentucky Farmers’ Willingness to Sell Produce Through Fresh Stop Markets.” Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7:1212764. (Collaboration with the University of Kentucky).</li> <li>Drugova, T., and Curtis (2023). Who Values Organic Specialty Bakery Products? USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2023-01pr.</li> <li>Drugova, T., and Curtis (2023). Consumer Taste Beliefs Impact Organic Specialty Baked Good Pricing. USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2023-02pr.</li> <li>Drugova, T., and Curtis (2023). Which Factors Influence Consumer Organic Specialty Bakery Product Taste Ratings? USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2023-03pr.</li> <li>Fulcher, , Rihn, A. L., Warner, L. A., LeBude, A. V., Schexnayder, S., Altland, J. E., Bumgarner, N., Marble, S. C., Nackley, L., Palma, M., Velandia, M., Zhu, H., Gan, H., & Owen, J. S. (2023). “Overcoming the Nursery Industry Labor Shortage: A Survey of Strategies to Adapt to a Reduced Workforce and Automation and Mechanization Technology Adoption Levels.” HortScience, 58(12), 1513-1525.</li> <li>Huang, K.-M., Guan, Z., Blare, T., Hammami, A. Malek (2023). Global Avocado Boom. Choices, 38(4). <a href="https://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/submitted-articles/global-avocado-boom">https://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/submitted-articles/global-avocado-boom</a></li> <li>Fonsah, E.G., R. Kunwar and J. Price (2023). Economics of Citrus Production Using Modern Technology (under review)</li> <li>Fonsah, E.G.,K. Kunwar, J.C. Diaz-Perez (2023). Economic Evaluation of Bell Pepper Production Under Colored Shade Nets System in the Southeast Region of the USA, African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, ISSN: 2375-0693; Vol. 11(1), pp. 001-007 (January)</li> </ol> <ol> <li>Fonsah E.G., J. F. Idowu, Halwart, M., X. Yuan, E.K. Ajani, B.O. Omitoyin, A. Bart, G. Burtle and O. Ajayi (2023). “Analyzing End-Market Prospect for Agricultural Output and Identifying Risk Factor: Integrated Rice-Fish in Nigeria”.  Feed-the-Future Innovation Lab for Fish Farm Diversification, The U.S. Government’s Global Hunger & Food Security Initiative, Technical Report-Socio-economic Contribution, pp.1-10.</li> </ol> <ol start="16"> <li>Gallardo, R.K. A Review of Agriculture’s Environmental Impacts and Adaptation Strategies. Forthcoming. International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics.</li> <li>Gallardo, R.K., Ma, A.E. Colonna, M.L. Montero, and C.F. Ross. 2023. Consumers’ Preferences for Novel and Traditional Pear Varieties: Evidence from Sensory Evaluation and Willingness to Pay Elicitation. HortScience 58(12): 1474-1483. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17317-23</li> <li>Govindasamy, R., Ayeni, K.M. Kelley, J.E. Simon, W.J. Sciarappa, R.W. Van Vranken, P. Nitzsche, B. Schilling, S.J. Komar, and S. Arumugam. Ethnic Crop Consumption and Marketing in the Eastern United States: Trends and Prospects, Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences. (2022). 35(3) 155-165.</li> </ol> <ol> <li>Halwart, M., X. Yuan, E.K. Ajani, B.O. Omitoyin, A. Bart, E.G. Fonsah, G. Burtle and O. Ajayi (2023). “New Development Frontier: Unlocking the Potential of Rice Field Fisheries (RFF) in Nigeria”.  Feed-the-Future Innovation Lab for Fish, The U.S. Government’s Global Hunger & Food Security Initiative, Policy Brief 4:2023</li> </ol> <ol start="20"> <li>Hill, R., B.R. Jablonski, L. Van, M. Wang, P. Mallika Appuhamilage, M. LeRoux, T. Mark, D.F. Mooney, D. Thilmany. (2023. Producers Marketing a Novel Crop: A Field-Level View of Hemp Market Channels. Renewable Ag and Food Systems. 38, e22, 15. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170523000145</li> <li>Knuth, M., Rihn, A.L., Torres, A.P., Behe, B.K., Boyer, C., and Khachatryan, H. In Press. Social Media Usage Among Green Industry Firms. Journal of Environmental Horticulture.</li> <li>Kunwar, S. R., G. Fonsah, and C. Escalante (2023). “An Assessment of Productivity and Profitability Using Monte Carlo Simulation Approach:  A Case of Georgia Blueberry Industry” (Under review)</li> <li>Langford, M., Curtis, and M. Stock (2023). An Overview of the Cut Flower Industry. USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2023-05pr.</li> <li>Langford, M., Curtis, and M. Stock (2023). Cut Flower Markets and Marketing in the Intermountain West. USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2023-06pr.</li> <li>Langford, M., Curtis, and M. Stock (2023). Understanding Cut Flower Consumers. USU Extension Fact Sheet, Applied Economics/2023-07pr.</li> <li>Lim, H., K. Gallardo, and M.P. Brady. 2023. “Interactions Between Organic and Conventional Markets from Pest and Disease Outbreaks: The Case of the U.S. Apple Industry.” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 1-17. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/aae.2023.11">https://doi.org/10.1017/aae.2023.11</a></li> <li>Love, E., B.R. Jablonski, L. Bellows and D. Thilmany A Baseline Assessment of School Food Spending and Local Procurement: Exploring the Case of Colorado Farm to School State Incentive and Other Public Policies. In second review at Agricultural and Resource Economics Review.</li> <li>Love, E. and Thilmany. (2023). Price Transmission and Asymmetry in the Colorado Potato Supply Chain. Journal of Food Distribution Research. Vol. 33. https://www.fdrsinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/JFDR53.3_1_Love.pdf</li> <li>Ma, X., K. Gallardo, E. Canales, A. Atucha, J. Zalapa, and M. Iorizzo. (2023). Would Consumers Accept CRISPR Fruit Crops if the Benefit Has Health Implications? An Application to Cranberry Products. Forthcoming. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review.</li> <li>Marques, JR., Rosales, C., Ulloa, M.C., Torres, A.P., Karam, A.A., and Mohammed, R. Submitted. Olive Market Analysis in Nineveh Plains, Iraq. USAID Publication.</li> <li>Mendis S, Bonanno, and C. Cho. Forthcoming “Farm to School Programming Spillovers and Households' Fruits and Vegetables Purchases.” Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.</li> <li>Montero, M.L., A.E. Colonna, K. Gallardo, and C.F. Ross. Sensory Profiling of Pears from the Pacific Northwest: Consumers’ Perspective and Descriptive Analysis. Forthcoming. Journal of Food Science.</li> </ol> <ol> <li>Ostadijafari, M., G. Manandhar, A. Dubey, H. A. Love and O. Bergland, (2023), "Principal-Agent Model for Bilateral Contract Design to Incentivize Residential Demand-side Flexibility," in IEEE Transactions on Energy Markets, Policy and Regulation, doi: 10.1109/TEMPR.2023.3304559. </li> <li>Ozkan, B., A.K. Dube., and R. Govindasamy, “Market Outlet Choices and their Effects on the Welfare of Smallholder Vegetable and Fruit Producers in Ethiopia”, Horticulturae, 2022.  <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/8/12/1148">https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/8/12/1148</a></li> </ol> <ol start="35"> <li>Palardy*, N., M. Costanigro, J. Cannon, Thilmany, J. Berning, J. Bayham, and J. Callaway. 2023. “Beer sales in grocery and convenience stores: a glass half-full for craft brewers?” Regional Studies 57(10):1981–1994. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2023.2166914</li> <li>Philocles, S., Torres, A. P., Patton, A.J., and E. Watkins. 2023. The Adoption of Low-Input Turfgrasses in the Midwestern US: The Case of Fine Fescues and Tall Fescue. Horticulturae.</li> <li>Rickard, B.J., S.-T. Ho, F. Livat, and A. Okrent. 2023. Date labels, food waste, and supply chain implications. European Review of Agricultural Economics 50(1): 29-58.</li> <li>Rignall, K., K. Tanaka, Velandia, C. Trejo-Pech, A. Del Brocco, N. Messer, and T. Cuellar.  2023. “The Practice of Food Justice: How Food Hubs Negotiate Racial Justice in the Southeastern United States.”  Culture, Agriculture, Food and Environment. (Collaboration with the University of Kentucky).</li> <li>Rihn L.A., Torres A.P., Behe B.K., Barton S. Submitted. Unwrapping the Native Plant Black Box: Consumer Perceptions and Segments for Target Marketing Strategies. American Journal of Agricultural Economics.</li> <li>Rihn, A., Behe, B.K., Barton, S. and Torres, A.P., 2023. Greater Appeal of Native Plants for Environmentally Conscious Consumers. Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 41(1):7-13.</li> <li>Rodriguez, O.F. and Torres, A.P., Thompson, A.W., and Marshall, M.I., (2023). Market Access and Value-added Strategies in the Specialty Crops Industry. HortScience, 58(1):32-39.</li> <li>Torres, A.P., Rihn, A.L., Barton, S.S., and Behe, B.K. Submitted. Perceptions and Socio-Economic Status Influence Purchases of Native Plants. HortTechnology.</li> <li>Staples, A.J., Howard, P., Connor, D.S., Sirrine, J.R., Ostrom, M.R., & Miller, M. (2023). “Apples to Advocacy: Evaluating Consumer Preferences for Hard Cider Policies.” Journal of Wine Economics, 1-16. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/jwe.2023.29">https://doi.org/10.1017/jwe.2023.29</a></li> <li>Traldi R, Torres, A.P. Submitted. It’s all about the economics: Navigating the challenges and opportunities of agricultural diversification in the U.S. Corn Belt. Agriculture and Human Values.</li> <li>Trejo-Pech, C., Velandia, K. Tanaka, K. Rignall, and T. Billie. (2023). “Financial and Strategic Management Analysis of Farmer Food share Inc., a Nonprofit Food Organization.”  International Food and Agribusiness Management Review. (Collaboration with the University of Kentucky).</li> <li>Uddin, A., K. Gallardo, B. Rickard, J.A. Alston, and O. Sambucci. (2023). “Consumers’ Willingness to Accept Gene-Edited Fruit - An Application to Quality Traits for Fresh Table Grapes.” QOpen, 3(1): 1-30. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/qopen/qoad008">https://doi.org/10.1093/qopen/qoad008</a></li> <li>Uddin, A., K. Gallardo, B.J. Rickard, J.M. Alston, O. Sambucci. 2022. Consumer acceptance of new plant-breeding technologies: An application to the use of gene editing in fresh table grapes. PLoS ONE 17(12): e0270792. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270792</li> <li>Ulloa MC, Marques JMR, Velasco JE, Philocles S, Torres, A.P. Submitted. Characterizing the US Market for Salad Mixes Through the Lens of Environmental Preferences. HortScience</li> <li>Velasco, J.E., Marques, J.R., Torres, A.P., Marshall, M.I., and Deering, A. U.S. Consumer Food Safety Concerns for Fresh Vegetables: A Cluster Analysis. Food Control.</li> <li>Wagner, K., Curtis, and M. Jewkes, (2022). “The Impact of Free Senior Center Farmers’ Markets During COVID-19.” Journal of the National Association of County Agriculture Agents, 15(2). https://www.nacaa.com/file.ashx?id=ffa08ba5-f659-46fb-b9bc-90aa100cc3b8</li> <li>Weir, R., J., Hadrich, Bonanno, and B.B.R. Jablonski. (2023). "Beginning farmer status and financial performance differentials", Agricultural Finance Review, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/AFR-05-2023-0054%20">https://doi.org/10.1108/AFR-05-2023-0054 </a></li> <li>Yenerall J., Chen. (2023) “Household Food Waste and Food Shopping Behavior.” Journal of Food Products Marketing. 29(7) 232-254.</li> </ol>   Refereed Conference Proceedings (S-1088 members in bold) <ol> <li>Amin, M.D., S. Badruddoza, and J. McCluskey. “Substitutes or Complements? The Effect of Opening a Food Store on Customer Visits to Neighborhood Food Retailers,” presented at the Conference on Economics of Inequity in Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Systems University of Minnesota Campus Club, May 24-25, 2023.</li> <li>Badruddoza, S., M. Dey Amin, J. McCluskey, and W. Sinclair. “Regional Predictors of Food Retailers’ Establishment, Closure, and Relocation,” presented at the AAEA annual meeting, Washington DC, July 25, 2023.</li> <li>Baker, Q., P. Canning, S. Rehkamp, M. Gill, Bonanno, and D. Thilmany. Assessing Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on the U.S. Macro Food Economy: February 2020 to December 2021. Presentation to 2023 ASTAR workshop.  USDA Economic Research Service. Washington DC. July 2023.</li> <li>Bergland, Olvar, Anamika Dubey, Grishma Manandhar, H. Alan Love. “Demand Response Supply Estimation with Smart Meter Data,” International Association for Energy Economics, European Conference Milan, July 24–27, 2023.</li> <li>Byrne, A., K. Marchesi, M. Gill, E.M Pelli, W. Sinclair, K. Harris-Lagoudakis and Thilmany (2023). The New Era of Food: Short- and Long-term Changes in the Food System After COVID-19. Organized Symposia selected for the 2023 AAEA Annual Meetings. Washington DC, July 2023.</li> <li>Costanigro, M, M. Dubois, A. Gracia, Jean-Marie Cardebat (2023). “The information Content of Expert Reviews, Brands and Geographical Indications. Presented at the 2023 AAEA conference in Washington Dc. July 23-25.</li> <li>Curtis, K, (forthcoming). “Role of Women in the Drink Tourism Industry and Associated Impacts on Rural Economic Development.” Proceedings of the 2023 National Extension Tourism Network Conference.</li> <li>Curtis, K., and M. Stock, (2023). “Growing a New Cut Flower Industry: Market Needs & Preferences.” Journal of Food Distribution Research, 54(1), 1-7.</li> <li>Drugova, T., and Curtis, (2023) “The Impact of Taste Beliefs on Consumer Perceptions of Organic Specialty Bakery Products.” Journal of Food Distribution Research, 54(1), 17-25.</li> <li>Gallardo*, R.K., A. Gutierrez-Li, J. Luckstead, R.M. Nayga Jr., B. Sallato-Carmona, and W. Yang. 2023. “Leave or Stay: The Role of Non-Pecuniary Benefits in H-2A Workers’ Willingness to Remain in Agriculture.” Presentation at the U.C. Davis Conference on Farm Labor: Demand, Supply, and Markets. March 16.</li> <li>Gao, S. Bonanno, M. Costanigro (2023). “How alcohol distribution laws influence the consumption and shopping behavior of US consumers.” Presented by S. Gao at the AAEA conference in Washington Dc. July 23-25, 2023.</li> <li>Gill, M., Bonanno, and D. Thilmany. How did pandemic-era shift in consumer expenditures vary across retailer types? Evidence from counterfactual COVID-19 scenarios.  Paper for Organized Symposia “Supply Chain Resilience in the Agri-Food Sector.”  Organized by J. Hobbs. 2023 Joint CAES/SCAE-WAEA Annual Meeting. Whistler BC, July 2023.</li> <li>Gill, M., Thilmany and L. Christensen. Did Pandemic-era Shifts in Online Shopping Options Change How and Where Consumers are Shopping for Food? Proposed poster for the 2023 AAEA Annual Meetings. August 2023. Washington DC.</li> </ol>    Forthcoming Publications   <ol> <li>Bauman, A., P. Watson, Thilmany McFadden, B.B.R. Jablonski, C.A. Parks, T. Kaminsky, and A.L. Yaroch, Building Representative State Groupings in an Input-Output model for the Development of an Economic Impact Calculator for Nutrition Incentive Programs. Submitted to Economic Development Quarterly</li> <li>Bonanno A, Tilhmany; B. B R Jablonski and A. Bauman “No Farm Left Behind: Farm Performance and Farm to School Programming Intensity” Revise and Resubmit at Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems.</li> <li>Bonanno, A., M. Gill and Thilmany. Was it Real? Decomposing Pandemic U.S. Food Expenditures Changes Using Counterfactuals. Working paper to be submitted to the Journal of the Ag and Applied Economics Association.  </li> <li>Costanigro, M. Berry and M. Gill. “Corporate social responsibility, regenerative agriculture, and brand perceptions”. This work is part of the grant-funded project Farmers for Advancing Regenerative Management Systems (FARMS). Our team is assessing whether food retailers (Walmart, Whole Foods, Kroger) can improve consumer perceptions of their brand by engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. We considered three CSR activities: supporting Organic agriculture, supporting regenerative agriculture, supporting fair trade. Milestone: survey design, and data collection phase completed. Data analysis is ongoing.</li> <li>Costanigro M., A. Gracia, M. Dubois and J. M. Cardebat. “The information content of expert reviews, brands, and Geographical Indications”. This experimental work studies how geographical indications create value for consumers by facilitating wine choice. Milestones: Article submitted for review.</li> <li>Love, E., B.R. Jablonski, L. Bellows and D. Thilmany A Baseline Assessment of School Food Spending and Local Procurement: Exploring the Case of Colorado’s Farm to School State Incentive and Other Public Policies. In second review at Agricultural and Resource Economics Review.</li> </ol>    Books and Book Chapters (S-1088 members in bold) <ol> <li>Fonsah E.G., F. Idowu, Halwart, M., X. Yuan, E.K. Ajani, B.O. Omitoyin, A. Bart, G. Burtle and O. Ajayi (2023). Investment and Business Manual for Fish-Rice Production System in Ebonyi and Kebbi States of Nigeria.  Feed-the-Future Innovation Lab for Fish Aquaculture & Rural Communities: Farm Diversification Project #A0032656RF (UGA, FAO & UI).</li> <li>Fonsah, E. G. (2023). “Vegetable and Pulses” In: 2023 Georgia Ag-Forecast. Strategic Insights for Georgia’s No.1 Industry.  College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, pp. 12-13.   <a href="https://secure.caes.uga.edu/extension/publications/files/pdf/AP%20130-1_1.PDF">https://secure.caes.uga.edu/extension/publications/files/pdf/AP%20130-1_1.PDF</a></li> <li>Fonsah, E. G. (2023). “Fruit and Tree Nuts” In: 2023 Georgia Ag-Forecast. College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, pp. 10-11. <a href="https://secure.caes.uga.edu/extension/publications/files/pdf/AP%20130-1_1.PDF">https://secure.caes.uga.edu/extension/publications/files/pdf/AP%20130-1_1.PDF</a></li> </ol>   Grants, Contracts, and/or Other resources obtained by one or more project members as a result of the project's activities: (S-1088 members in bold) Abbreviations: PI: Principal Investigator, CoPI: Co-Principal Investigator, USDA: United States Department of Agriculture, SCRI: Specialty Crop Research Initiative, WATFRC: Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, NCPN: National Clean Plant Network, APHIS: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. <ol> <li>Allen, K., R. Ward, and Curtis: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, 2023-2025. $5 million. Southwest Regional Food Business Center (Utah).</li> <li>Arriana Torres (Purdue): Economic impact of biological controls in high tunnel production (also for turfgrass website but unrelated): research and extension. Funding from USDA-SCRI.</li> <li>Arriana Torres (Purdue): Diverse Corn Belt, Market opportunities for crops produced in diversified farming systems (regenerative agriculture): wholesalers, retailers, restaurants: research and extension. Funding from USDA Sustainable Ag Systems.</li> <li>Arriana Torres (Purdue): Consumer preferences for low-input attributes on fresh salad mixes: research. Funding from USDA-FNRI</li> <li>Arriana Torres (Purdue): Consumer preferences for food safety-related attributes in fresh vegetables: research. Funding from USDA-FNRI</li> <li>Arriana Torres (Purdue): Adoption of value-added technologies for specialty crops (beginning farmers, farmers): research. Funding from USDA-NIFA</li> <li>Arriana Torres (Purdue): Online curricula for contingency planning for agribusinesses: cohort and certificate from Purdue Extension. Funding from USDA-SARE</li> <li>Arriana Torres (Purdue): Market strategies for indigenous women farmers in Peru, focused on passion fruit and chocolate products with potential to export. Funding from USAID</li> <li>Arriana Torres (Purdue): Diversification of markets and market linkages in the olive industry in Iraq, with focus displaced Kurdish farmers. Funding from USAID</li> <li>Butler, D.; Wszelaki, A.; Velandia, M.; Shekoofa, A.; Trejo-Pech, C., “Alley Cropping Agroforestry as a Climate Change Resiliency Strategy for Vegetable Production in the Southeastern US.” Southern Region SARE Program – University of Georgia. Planned Performance Period: 2023-2026. Total funding: $367,000.</li> <li>Curtis, K. (Co-Principal Investigator): USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, 2023-2025. $5 million. Southwest Regional Food Business Center – Utah.</li> <li>Curtis, K. (Principal Investigator/Project Director): USU Extension Grants Program, 2023-2024. $30,000. Growing the Utah Cut Flower Market.</li> <li>Curtis, K., (Co-Principal Investigator): Western SARE Research & Education, 2023-2026. $99,979. Expanding cut flower production education supports agricultural professionals and small farms.</li> <li>DeLong, K.L., D.W. Hughes, Rihn, X. Chen, R. Painter. “Developing a Successful Marketing Channel for Rural Wineries in Tennessee.” USDA - FSMIP. Total Requested: $241,138.</li> <li>Drink Better, Drink Less? Implications of Gender Stereotypes in Local Food and Craft Beverage Marketing. AAEA Sylvia Lane Graduate Mentor Research Proposal. $2500 Funded by the AAEA Foundation.  2023-24. With Courtney Cooper.</li> <li>Local and Regional Food System Resiliency and Recovery. Phase 2 & 3 of a USDA Ag Marketing Service cooperative Agreement (with U. of Kentucky).  $780,000.  Continuance of Local and Regional Food Systems COVID-19 Rapid Response.  Collaboration with University of Kentucky, U of Arkansas and Cooperative Agreement with the USDA Ag Marketing Service.  $135,000.  With Jablonski and L. Christensen.</li> <li>Lopez, R., B. Whipker, J. Boldt, L. Rihn, C.J. Currey, A.M. Shaw, M. Hausbeck, C. Engfehr, E. Runkle, K.J. Walters, B.K. Behe. “Expanding Fresh Culinary Herb Production in Greenhouses.” USDA-NIFA-SCRI. 2023-2028. Co-PI. Total Requested: $3,000,000.</li> <li>Huang, K.-M., "Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Market and Supply System of Mississippi and its Neighboring States: Interrelationship between Agribusiness Development and Social Outcomes," accepted by USDA NIFA, Federal. Multi-State HATCH Project.</li> <li>Northwest Mountain Regional Food Business Center. Regional Food Business Center proposal to the USDA Ag Marketing Service. $30 million. With Oregon State, U of Idaho, Montana State, Washington State and U of Wyoming.  2023-2028.</li> <li>Rudolph, R.; Haramoto, E.; Gauthier, N.; Larson, J.; Wszelaki, A.; Hansen, Z.; Velandia, M. ''Evaluation of Soil Solarization as a Sustainable Management Method in Upper Southeast High Tunnels for Pests, Pathogens, and Weeds.'' Southern Region SARE Program – University of Georgia. Planned Performance Period: 2023-2026. Total funding: $367,000. (Collaboration with the University of Kentucky).</li> <li>Walters, K.; Sams, C.; Velandia, M.; Rihn, A.; and Trejo-Pech, C. ''Exploring the Feasibility of End of Production Regimens to Improve Leafy Green Nutritional Content, Appearance, And Post-Harvest Longevity,'' USDA - NIFA. Planned Performance Period: 2023-2028. Total requested: $749,767.</li> <li>Yenerall, J., Chen. “Consumer Preferences for Online Grocery Shopping Attributes, Their Influence on Food Choice, and Nutrition Security Implications.” USDA-NIFA-AFRI. New Investigator Seed Grant. PD. 2023-2025. $300,000.</li> <li>UDSA NIFA/Specialty Crop Research Initiative/USDA-NIFA-SCRI-xxx “Mechanical harvesting management practices and analysis of adoption barriers approach for sustainable management of fresh market onion production in the Southeastern United States”. PI: Malla, Subas TAMU; CoPI- UGA (Fonsah).  $5,219,756</li> <li>Drink Better, Drink Less? Implications of Gender Stereotypes in Local Food and Craft Beverage Marketing. AAEA Sylvia Lane Graduate Mentor Research Proposal. $2500 Funded by the AAEA Foundation.  2023-24. With Courtney Cooper. (with Arkansas)</li> <li>Northwest Mountain Regional Food Business Center. Regional Food Business Center proposal to the USDA Ag Marketing Service. $30 million (proposed $50 million with 2 additional states). With Oregon State, U of Idaho, Montana State, Washington State and U of Wyoming.  2023-2028. </li> <li>Local and Regional Food System Resiliency and Recovery. Phase 2 & 3 of a USDA Ag Marketing Service cooperative Agreement (with U. of Kentucky).  $780,000.  Continuance of Local and Regional Food Systems COVID-19 Rapid Response.  Subcontract with University of Kentucky and Cooperative Agreement with the USDA Ag Marketing Service.  $135,000.  With Jablonski. (with U. of Kentucky)</li> <li>School food procurement: Comparing costs across procurement programs. Funded by the Urban School Food Alliance. $65,000.  2021-22. with A. Bauman and Jablonski</li> <li>Development and Expansion of a State-Specific Economic Impact Calculator for Nutrition Incentive Projects. Grant with Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition Incentives. $82,000. 2021-22. with A. Bauman and Jablonski</li> <li>Assessing Sustainable Development Goals: Six Cross-Nationally Comparable Agri-Food Pilot Studies. $425,000 Cooperative Agreement with USDA Economic Research Service and Cornell University. 2021-24. (with M. Gomez at Cornell)</li> <li>Exploring the Scale, Scope and New Supply Chain Linkages in the Local Food Sector. Cooperative Agreement with USDA Economic Research Service. $166,000. 2021-23. With Jablonski and L. Chenarides (Arizona State University, now at CSU).</li> <li>Stock, M., Curtis, et al.: Western SARE Research & Education, 2023-2026. $99.979. Expanding cut flower production education supports agricultural professionals and small farms.</li> </ol>

Impact Statements

Despite the multifaceted challenges encountered by the specialty crop growers nationally, the industry continues to grow stronger partially due to the information our team provides to the policy-makers, stakeholders and farmers. Furthermore, our team work provided information needed by the farmers for their day-to-day farm management and marketing decisions on crops to be planted, adopted agricultural practices and willingness to sell produce through fresh stop market also enhances understanding of the changing environment for farmers and informs future research needs and Extension programming across our states.

Date of Annual Report: 12/02/2024

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 10/20/2024 - 10/22/2024
Period the Report Covers: 12/01/2023 - 11/30/2024

Participants

- Rebecca Wasserman-Olin– Colorado State
- Samuel Zapata – Texas A&M
- Tim Woods – University of Kentucky
- Margarita Velandia – University of Tennessee
- Kimberly Morgan – University of Florida
- Maria Bampasidou – Louisiana State University
- Ramu Govindasamy – Rutgers University
- Yifan Nian – Clemson University
- Ariana Torres – Purdue University
- Alicia Rihn – University of Tennessee
- Jackie Yenerall – University of Tennessee
- Kuan-Ming Huang - Mississippi State University
- Jenifer Huang McBeath– University of Alaska, Fairbanks
- Esendugue Greg Fonsah – University of Georgia
- Suzanne Thornsbury – University of Florida
- Karina Gallardo – Washington State University (Virtual attendee)
- James Sterns – Oregon State University (Virtual attendee)

Brief Summary of Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Esendugue Greg Fonsah at 8 am Eastern Time.

The Chair began the meeting by welcoming members and introducing the in-coming Chair. He noted new members and welcomed their growing participation.

The meeting agenda was reviewed.

The minutes from the 2023 S-1088 meeting were A motion to approve was made by Tim Woods (UKy) and seconded by Margarita Velandia (UTK). The motion passed unanimously.

State Reports

Members presented abbreviated state reports, focusing on overview and any pressing activities. More detailed reports to come with written summaries which will be submitted.

Jenifer Huang McBeath presented an overview of her work on development of Rhodiola rosea – a high valued medicinal crop in Alaska

Agenda Items:

Development and submission of a new proposal
- The timeline for development of a new proposal was reviewed.
- Recognizing the benefits of a multi-state approach to issues addressed by S-1088, there was unanimous support for submitting a new proposal and requesting a 5-year timeline (requested duration to be October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2030).
- Title and objectives for a new proposal were discussed and a consensus was reached among the members present. Drafted language to be circulated among all current S-1088 members for any further input.
- Members present discussed their individual programs and noted where they found the most synergies with the proposed objectives for the new proposal. Noted that all 3 of the proposed new objectives are appropriate for multi-state effort with a cross-section of members having activities in those areas that would benefit from continued collaborative efforts.

Potential Group Activities –the following group activities were proposed for the membership with member(s) leading the effort
- Publish series of coordinated reports from S-1088 activities in Specialty Crop section of Southern Ag Today https://southernagtoday.org/ [Kim Morgan and Maria Bampasidou serve as SAT Specialty Crop Topic Leaders].
- Incorporate multi-state participation to develop podcast episodes for “Let’s Talk About Labor” https://arec.tennessee.edu/extension/lets-talk-about-labor/ [Margarita Velandia]
- Develop and submit proposal for AAEA symposium on emerging research related to labor issues for specialty crops [Tim Woods]
- Explore opportunities for a proposal related to impacts from government food purchase and feeding programs on specialty crop markets as well as consumer nutrition [Suzanne Thornsbury and Ariana Torres]

New Membership
- The group recognized there is limited participation from universities in some of the major specialty crop producing states and that new faculty are often unaware of multi-state projects and the benefits they provide. We will undertake a coordinated effort to reach these groups, including at non-land grant institutions.
- Survey S-1088 members and potential members about their expectations, perceived benefits, and future needs from a multi-state effort [Suzanne Thornsbury and Jackie Yenerall]

The meeting was adjourned at 12 PM Eastern Time

Accomplishments

Accomplishments (organized by objective):   Objective 1 Develop demand and market valuation models for the produce sector that can be used to evaluate effects of increasingly complex product differentiation schemes (organic, enhanced health claims, biodynamic), trade, commodity marketing programs, labeling programs (local, food miles, Fair Trade), traceability systems, and food safety events in the U.S. produce markets. S-1088 team members engaged in research focused on consumer demand for increasingly differentiated products, attributes, and accessibility options. Buyer willingness-to-pay and analysis of how information is, or can be, conveyed to consumers are often a focus as they impact purchase decisions. Selected examples include: Consumer preferences for new technologies: Washington State University research on blueberries supports targeted breeding efforts by identifying the quality traits consumers value most with a goal of ultimately increasing access to nutritious food. Additional research on cranberries and apples provided valuable insights to encourage the adoption of technologies like CRISPR and postharvest irradiation. These advancements improve the palatability of cranberries without added sugar and enhance the quality and shelf-life of apples in storage. This work increases access to healthier fresh apples and cranberry-based products. Analysis included estimating the willingness-to-pay and the probability of purchasing of processed cranberries and fresh apples that have used alternative technologies. New products in response to changing preferences: A University of Alaska project focused on the development of environmentally-responsible rhodiola farms in Alaska through the explication of the microbiome. Rhodiola (Rhodiola app.), a perennial herbaceous high-valued medicinal plant, is the latest agricultural crop developed in the State. The project addressed the 1) development of an efficient and economical production system for a healthy robust rhodiola crop; and 2) development of environmentally-benign means of disease control. Purdue University members evaluated adoption of value-added technologies for specialty crops, particularly focused on opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers. Responsiveness to price: Projects at Washington State University estimated the price elasticity; how sensitive consumers are to price variations given different quality descriptors. Analysis included estimating the willingness-to-pay for the job features H-2A workers in apple operations value the most. Demand for expanded accessibility. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted production and marketing of consumer products. In 2024, members from University of Tennessee and Rutgers University evaluated demand for online grocery shopping. University of Tennessee analyzed data that captures households’ attitudes towards and use of online grocery shopping, including expenditures on fruits and vegetables and their preferences for delivery and service attributes of online grocery shopping platforms. Preliminary results from a cluster analysis suggest households can be grouped into four clusters based on their attitudes regarding the time and money cost associated with online grocery shopping, and trust in retailers. Other preliminary results find that while households value faster delivery when using online grocery shopping, they place an even greater value on a hypothetical service attribute that trains grocery store employees to select high quality perishable products. The Rutgers study focused on online fresh fruit and vegetable shopping in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, based on responses from 618 individuals. The comparison of consumer attributes and attitudes before and after COVID-19 revealed how major events lead to significant changes in consumer preference for shopping online. The study also recognized the distinctiveness between fruits and vegetables. The study revealed that well-educated adult males, whether working or retired, are more willing to buy fresh products online. Having household members below 17 years old contributes to this rising tendency both before and after the pandemic. With increasing age, the tendency for online shopping declines, regardless of the existence of COVID-19 as a factor. Higher income and a greater potential to spend on fresh products seem to increase the probability of shopping online. One significant finding is the positive relationship between urban residency and the probability of accepting online shopping. Online shopping has become common for everyone in the last two decades. Labelling strategies: In 2024, University of Tennessee investigated the impact of color-coded Nutrition Facts Panels (NFP) on consumer behavior to reveal new insights into label effectiveness in guiding healthier food choices of snacks and fresh produce. By analyzing participant responses, viewing patterns, and decision times, the study quantified how color-coded NFPs affect consumers' ability to quickly and accurately assess product healthiness and make informed purchasing decisions. Results demonstrated that color-coded NFPs notably increased attention to restricted nutrients and improved decision efficiency, providing a new understanding of how label design can enhance consumer engagement with nutrition information.  A University of Florida project focused on increasing grower knowledge of potential benefits from labeling product as produced with best management practice (BMP) as well as increased consumer knowledge of BMPs and the environmental impact of agricultural production. Grower and consumer surveys were developed to estimate grower attitudes toward the BMP label marketing program, estimate consumer preferences for BMP labels on different specialty crops, and understand how packaging units affect the willingness-to-pay estimates for BMP labels. Members from Louisiana State University and University of Kentucky assessed aspects of state labelling programs. Louisiana State University focused on grower participation in Grow LA efforts. A cohort of 15 new and beginning horticulture farmers completed a workshop series funded through USDA SE TOPP to support organic certification and organic production practices for vegetable and fruit production; particularly small farms in Louisiana. Marketing emphasis through marketing and branding workshops and hands on activities. University of Kentucky continued a State branding assessment with the KY Proud label including outcome sharing with colleagues in neighboring states (IN, TN).  IMPACTS: Findings from our work highlight the dynamic nature of consumer tastes and the need for businesses to re-evaluate their strategies to meet the market’s current and future needs. Results contribute to the knowledge of labeling strategies, offering evidence-based recommendations to policymakers and food manufacturers aiming to promote healthier choices through more effective labeling practices to enhance the demand for healthier food products. By highlighting the effectiveness of strategies such as color-coded Nutrition Facts Panels in enhancing consumer understanding and influencing healthier food choices, our research has potential long-term impacts on public health, labeling policy, and market dynamics of food products. In a case like the world-altering, abrupt occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic major changes in consumer purchasing strategies and availability options can be conveyed into long-term changes. By focusing on changes such as online shopping, companies or intermediaries may both sustain and grow by accurately delivering non-durable products, as exemplified by fresh produce, through setting correct prices, adjusting delivery systems and location planning, and finding the best methods for promoting their products to consumers. These factors can be incorporated into territorial marketing policies to meet consumers’ demands and maintain supplies of products and attributes that consumers prefer. Long-term outcomes may include shifts in consumer behavior toward healthier eating patterns. Widespread adoption of new technologies that make produce more available or more desirable (low sugar, etc) can lead to increased consumption of healthy foods. Likewise, better understanding how households value different attributes or the ways consumers prefer to shop can help retailers modify of develop services offered through their online grocery shopping platforms to better attract and retain customers as well as increase sales of fresh fruits and vegetables. Objective 2 Analyze the relative benefits and costs, to producers and consumers, of government and industry-led marketing and policy programs (certifications, Country of origin labeling, farmers markets, California/Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreements) using both theoretical approaches and empirical evidence from multi-state applied research projects. Team members performed research to update farm management information, inform alternative pest control and production systems, and assess policy programs. Benefit cost analysis and policy assessment are often a focus. Examples include: Updated farm management information: University of Georgia developed almost three dozen specialty crops risk-rated enterprise budgets which depicted changes in input costs (e.g., variable costs, harvesting and marketing costs, and fixed costs) and how these volatile prices affected profit margins. The budgets provide information needed by farmers for their day-to-day farm management and planting decisions. The budgets are also needed to obtain loans and were helpful to financial institutions, farm credit bureaus, Georgia Department of Agriculture, and Congressional offices. Pest Control: In 2023, two unknown diseases were found on rhodiola in Alaska.  Conventional methods of disease control using chemicals are not realistic, because: 1) the slow degradation and long persistence of chemical pesticides in cold soils, and 2) rhodiola farmers practice organic farming. Most currently available biological control products are also not an option because the active ingredients (beneficial microbes) of these products lack sufficient cold adaptation capability and cannot function (germinate) in soils lower than 10 C (50 F). In response, Plant Helper, a research product of the Plant Pathology and Biotechnology Laboratory, University of Alaska Fairbanks, was developed as an environmentally-benign and safe means of disease control. The rhodiola farmers were very excited about the performance of Plant Helper and have started to incorporate the treatment in the management of their crops. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is an alternative to chemical soil fumigation for disease control. University of Florida research enhanced the understanding of ASD adoption potential through development of enterprise budgets and economic cost and benefit analysis of ASD for strawberry production. Farmer feedback was collected through a survey to better understand the motivations and barriers regarding ASD adoption. University of Kentucky members conducted a survey of vegetable growers to assess their interest and willingness-to-adopt soil solarization in high tunnels. Soil solarization is a management technique that uses passive solar heating of irrigated soil under a transparent plastic tarp to achieve soil temperatures detrimental to soilborne pests, pathogens, and weed seeds. Thus, soil solarization can be a non-chemical alternative to pesticide application. Preliminary results suggest only a small percentage of respondents are using or have used soil solarization. Nonetheless, more than 75% of those respondents who are not using or have not used soil solarization are willing to use soil solarization. The two most important reasons for wanting to use soil solarization include interest in using more environmentally friendly practices and the belief that soil solarization might be cheaper and more effective in managing weeds, insect pests, diseases and /or plant-parasitic nematodes in high tunnels. Production Systems Production systems for specialty crops continue to evolve to incorporate a mix of emerging best practices, new entrants, and new market opportunities. S-1088 members are very active in assessment of the potential using both theoretical approaches and empirical evidence. In 2024, members from Mississippi State University, Purdue University, and University of Kentucky organized and delivered a Track Session “Sustainability, Crop Diversification, and Controlled Environment Agriculture” at the 2024 annual meetings of the Agriculture and Applied Economics Association. University of Kentucky continued work on an urban agriculture project. In 2024 they developed an enterprise budget template and collected data from experimental stations to estimate the cost and benefit of using the ‘table top’ system for strawberry production. In 2024, University of Tennessee members conducted a survey of fruit and vegetable growers to assess their interest in adopting alley cropping systems. Alley cropping, which is a type of intercropping system, is an agroforestry practice that involves the planting of trees or shrubs alongside herbaceous crops within the same production system. Preliminary results suggest that age, education, risk preference, farm income, and familiarity with alley cropping are significantly correlated with a farmer’s willingness-to-adopt. When payments are associated with an alley cropping system that includes trees that do not generate short term income opportunities and/or that might be challenging to maintain over time, preliminary results suggest that those payments do not have an impact on adoption. Team members from Purdue University and University of Kentucky evaluated opportunities for high tunnel production systems. Purdue University assessed the economic impact of biological controls in high tunnel production research and extension while University of Kentucky continued the regional work on-going around high tunnel economics and corresponding marketing systems.  Policy Programs A joint project between Cornell, Washington State University, and Michigan State University was developed and funded to assess benefits of, and barriers to, dynamic controlled atmosphere storage. The economic question relates to new regulations affecting materials that can be used in storage. Some of the new technologies are more sustainable but also have a different suite of costs and benefits across time.  Availability and affordability of labor is one of the most-cited challenges for specialty crop production. A Washington State University project elicited information on H-2A workers’ preferences to offer critical guidance for policymakers on the job attributes workers prioritize.  The goal is to increase satisfaction of H2A workers and help support long-term sustainability of the H-2A program. University of Tennessee members developed outreach presentations, publications, and a Podcast to educate specialty crop farmers about the different foreign nonimmigrant worker visa programs that could help them better navigate labor challenges they are facing. The goal is to increase specialty crop farms’ resilience to labor challenges and increase long term sustainability of these operations. University of Georgia members continued their work on policy issues plaguing the Georgia fruits and vegetable industry and providing solutions on how to cope during the Covid-19 pandemic and trade wars with major importers like China.  A Washington State University research project focused on micro-grid market designs for the power grid that can both incorporate local solar and wind power generation and be self-sustaining during periods of extreme conditions that might shut down parts of the larger grid network. This capacity is particularly important in rural areas that often have limited grid connections and where wildfires occurrences are increasing. IMPACTS: The pace of change continues to accelerate making up-to-date information even more critical for rapid decision-making to sustain viability of farm and food systems. Our work in this area has been pivotal in assisting growers, stakeholders, policy-makers with information needed to navigate the challenges they encounter and facilitate their day-to-day decision-making process. Analyses is critical to support technology uptake by U.S. specialty crop industries. For example, evaluating fruit and vegetable farmers’ interest in adopting alley cropping systems in the southeastern U.S. is of importance because previous studies predict severe changes in climate in this region, including increased frequency, duration, and intensity of heat waves and extreme precipitation events. Fruit and vegetable crops are especially susceptible to these extreme weather events. Introducing alley cropping as a conservation standard practice in the Tennessee NRCS office Technical Guide would facilitate financial and/or technical assistance for alley cropping adoption. Emergence of new high-valued crops, such as the medicinal plant Rhodiola has benefits for both producers and consumers. Efficient production of rhodiola will benefit users (the public) by making this product more accessible. The public will benefit by learning about the development and improvements made in cultural and management practices of rhodiola in Alaska and in the effective use of environmentally-friendly products such as Plant Helper. Objective 3 Assess the changing coordination and supply chain management strategies being implemented in the fruit and vegetable sector and identify strategic organizational and marketing implications for a set of firms that are diverse in terms of commodity, marketing approach and size of operation (including small and mid-size farms). Team members continue to support more efficient and effective supply chain coordination among firms that are diverse in terms of commodity, marketing approach and size of operation (including small and mid-size farms). Selected examples include: Colorado State University is coordinating the USDA Regional Food Business Center for the Northwest and Rocky Mountain states of CO, ID, OR, WA, WY and MT.  They have begun tracking how food businesses are using market information to update their marketing strategies and plans and will be able to track outcomes through 2028. Initial evidence is that there are growing opportunities for value-added products through retailers. Because of policies to support local procurement by schools and food banks there are also opportunities for new market access by producers. CSU is sharing best practices and technical assistance programs with partners in OR, WA, ID, MT and WY. Team members from University of Illinois and Purdue University are conducting the Gardner Food and Agricultural Policy Survey that monitors public perceptions of issues relevant to the politics of the food system, including topics relating to produce. These include perceptions of affordability, support for agricultural payments, experiences with inflation, and preferences for firm and farm sizes. Each quarter, the project surveys approximately 1,000 U.S. consumers. Over time, more than 10,000 U.S. consumers have been surveyed as a part of this effort. Results have led to the publication of 31 outreach reports, which were viewed over 17,800 times by over 14,000 readers in 2024. The outreach report has been useful for many stakeholders in the food system and has had more than 30 media appearances, including Wall Street Journal, NPR’s Harvest Public Media, AP News, Politico, etc. Mississippi State University and Clemson University team members are finalizing a publication that examines producers’ preference for the use of blockchain and smart contracts for specialty crops sales. IMPACTS Our research supports resilient supply chains that can adapt to unforeseeable shocks and a safe, healthy and affordable food system. For example, following USDA guidance the Food Business Centers incorporate aligned evaluation research to explore how market access, sales levels, farm/food business survival and social capital across food supply chains will change between 2023 and 2028. Outputs improve the knowledge of the economic cost and benefits of implementing changes in production or marketing practices for specialty crop enterprises.

Publications

Publications:   Outreach/Industry Presentations:   <ol> <li>“A Competitive Model for Evaluating CEA Feasibility as a Part of Production in the U.S.” (with Peter Ravensburger), in track session Sustainability, crop diversification, and controlled environment agriculture organized for the S-1088 (Woods,T. with Torres, , Huang, K.M.). American and Applied Economics Association annual meeting, New Orleans, LA, July 30, 2024</li> </ol>   <ol start="2"> <li>“A Sensory and Wellness Framework for Choosing Watermelons for Local Growers in Local Markets”, (Woods,T. with Guan, W., Rudolph, R., and Corbin, K.), Research Report, FDRS annual meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 20-22, 2024</li> </ol>   <ol start="3"> <li>“State Brand Awareness and Purchasing Determinants in Kentucky”, (Woods,T. with Rossi, J. and Varziri, A.), WERA-72 Annual Meeting, Tucson, AZ, June 4-5, 2024</li> </ol>   <ol start="4"> <li>“U.S. Wine Sector Resiliency – Evaluating Responses to a Litany of Challenges: Wildfire Smoke, Pandemic Restrictions, and Climate Change”, (Woods,T. with Curtis, K., Kropp, J. and Sterns, J.), Organized Symposium, Specialty Crops and BEER sections track session, American and Applied Economics Association annual meeting, New Orleans, LA, July 30, 2024</li> </ol>   <ol start="5"> <li>Bajgain, P., Rihn, A., Walters, K., Bumgarner, N. 2024. Risk Perceptions of Production Practices to Enhance Microgreens Nutrition Content. AAEA Annual Meeting and Conference, New Orleans, LA, July 28-30, 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="6"> <li>Bampasidou, M. and Jylce, J. 2024. “Transitioning to Organic in the South”. Southern Ag Today, June 28, 2024. https://southernagtoday.org/2024/06/06/transitioning-to-organic-in-the-south/</li> </ol>   <ol start="7"> <li>Bampasidou, M., Fontenot, K., Strahan, R., and Holzapfel, A. 2024. “Action Plan Response to Drift Damage”, PUB. 3931-C</li> </ol>   <ol start="8"> <li>Centinari, M., Kelley, K. M., Hickey, C., & Hed, B. (March 2, 2023 - Present). "Grapevine Growth Stage Dynamics Across the Commonwealth," 2023 Pennsylvania Grape and Wine Industry Conference, State College, PA, Invited.</li> </ol>   <ol start="9"> <li>Christensen, L. and Thilmany, D. USDA Regional Food Centers: Value Data to Crunch, TA to Provide and Investments to Identify. Presentation to the 2024 Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Westminster CO. February 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="10"> <li>Coppess, J; Kalaitzandonakes, M; and Ellison, B. 2024. . "Hot, Hot, Hot: Preferences for U.S. Spending to Address Extreme Weather." farmdoc daily (14):174 https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2024/09/hot-hot-hot-preferences-for-us-spending-to-address-extreme-weather.html</li> </ol>   <ol start="11"> <li>Cui, X., Huang, K. M., & Guan, Z. Male Dominance in the Hiring of H-2A Guest Workers: Controversy and Spillover Effects. 2024 AAEA Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (Poster).</li> </ol>   <ol start="12"> <li>Daniel, J., Fonsah, E.G., Hancock, G., and Campbell, B. 2024. Georgia Farm Gate Value 20-Years Trends – Fruits and Nuts.  Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics, AGECON-24-05-04.https://agecon.uga.edu/content/dam/caes-subsite/ag-econ/documents/extension/farm-gate-trends/Blueberries%20and%20pecans%20trends%202001-2022.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="13"> <li>Daniel, J., Hancock, G., Fonsah, E.G., and Campbell, B. 2024. Georgia Farm Gate Value 20-Years Trends – Vegetables.  Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics, AGECON-24-05-05. https://agecon.uga.edu/content/dam/caes-subsite/ag-econ/documents/extension/farm-gate-trends/Vegetable%20trends%202001-2022.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="14"> <li>Ellison, B; Kalaitzandonakes, M; and Coppess, J. 2024. "Consumers Continue to Struggle with Inflation and Food Affordability: Results From GFAPS." farmdoc daily (14):108 https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2024/06/consumers-continue-to-struggle-with-inflation-and-food-affordability-results-from-gfaps.html</li> </ol>   <ol start="15"> <li>Fonsah, E. G. “Fruit and Tree Nuts” In: 2023 Georgia Ag-Forecast. College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, pp. 10-11.</li> </ol>   <ol start="16"> <li>Fonsah, E. G. “Vegetable and Pulses” In: 2023 Georgia Ag-Forecast. Strategic Insights for Georgia’s No.1 Industry.  College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, pp. 12-13.   https://secure.caes.uga.edu/extension/publications/files/pdf/AP%20130-1_1.PDF</li> </ol>   <ol start="17"> <li>Gallardo, R.K. “Building Capacity for a Changing Workforce.” Presentation at the conference “The Changing Landscape of Farm Labor Conditions in the United States: What Future Hold and How to Prepare for It.” Monterey, CA. September 18-19. Participants= 50.</li> </ol>   <ol start="18"> <li>Gallardo, R.K., Charlton, D., Devadoss, S., Luckstead, J., and Vougioukas. S. 2023-2024. “Economic Viability of Robotic Fruit Harvesters to Reduce Large Seasonal Labor Demands.” POM Club. Yakima, WA. March 20, 2024. N. Participants=100.</li> </ol>   <ol start="19"> <li>Gallardo, R.K., Charlton, D., Devadoss, S., Luckstead, J., and Vougioukas, S. 2023-2024. “Economic Viability of Robotic Fruit Harvesters to Reduce Large Seasonal Labor Demands.” Poster presentation at the CPAAS and Ag Weather Network Open House. July 12, 2024. Participants=50.</li> </ol>   <ol start="20"> <li>Gill, M. and Thilmany, D. Exploring the Relationship between Online Food Shopping and the Diversity of Consumers’ Market Channel Selections: Implications for the Post-Pandemic Food Environment. Brown Bag Presentation to the USDA ERS. June 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="21"> <li>Gill, M. and Thilmany, D. Nuances in Online Food Shopping Behaviors in the Post-Pandemic Food Environment. Selected Paper at the 2024 WAEA Annual Meeting. San Francisco CA, June 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="22"> <li>Gill, M. and Thilmany, D. Who Buys Local Foods and Why? Recent Literature Updates.  Paper for AAEA Organized Symposia “Supply Chain Resilience in the Agri-Food Sector.”  Organized by A. Spalding. 2024 AAEA Annual Meeting. New Orleans LA, July 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="23"> <li>Goodrich, B. and Chalstrom, T. Interview with UC Davis’ Brittney Goodrich about the 2023 Almond Pollination Economic Outlook My Ag Life Podcast. Episode 204. January 12, 2024. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/myaglife/episodes/11224---MyAgLife-Episode-204-Interview-with-UC-Davis-Brittney-Goodrich-on-the-2024-Pollination-Outlook-e2ecc7h</li> </ol>   <ol start="24"> <li>Goodrich, B. and Gordon, P. 2024 Bee outlook with Brittney Goodrich. Growing the Valley Podcast. January 23, 2024. https://www.growingthevalleypodcast.com/podcastfeed/2024/1/23/2024-bee-outlook-with-brittney-goodrich</li> </ol>   <ol start="25"> <li>Goodrich, B. Costs and Returns of Organic Production. 2024 UCCE Organic Crops Day. April 26, 2024. Santa Rosa, CA</li> </ol>   <ol start="26"> <li>Goodrich, B. Economics of Almond Pollination (Three part series), part of the University of Montana Commercial Pollination Beekeeping Course. September 9-October 18, 2024. Virtual</li> </ol>   <ol start="27"> <li>Goodrich, B. Economics of Pistachio Production. 2024 Statewide Pistachio Day. January 17, 2024. Visalia, CA. https://na.eventscloud.com/file_uploads/bc01e7eba9dfbe2eca4cb3a1a7fa6fb4_BrittneyGoodrich2024.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="28"> <li>Goodrich, B. Economics of Tree Nut Production. 2024 North Valley Nut Conference. January 31, 2024. Chico, CA</li> </ol>   <ol start="29"> <li>Goodrich, B. Low prices in nut crops: Paradigm shift required for research and extension work? 2024 Pomology Extension Continuing Conference. March 26, 2024. Davis, CA</li> </ol>   <ol start="30"> <li>Goodrich, B. Panelist, Perspectives on Walnut Economics Discussion, North Sacramento Valley Walnut Day. February 29, 2024. Red Bluff, CA</li> </ol>   <ol start="31"> <li>Goodrich, B. Panelist, Perspectives on Walnut Economics Discussion, Sutter-Yuba Walnut Day. February 28, 2024. Yuba City, CA</li> </ol>   <ol start="32"> <li>H Hughes, D.W., Painter, R., Rihn, A. 2024. The Tennessee Wine and Grape Industry 2024. TN Grape and Wine Board meeting, July 10, 2024, Nashville TN.</li> </ol>   <ol start="33"> <li>Kalaitzandonakes, M; Coppess, J; and Ellison, B. "Sizing Up the Food System: US Consumers’ Perceptions of Food System Firm Sizes and Pricing." farmdoc daily (14):47. https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2024/03/sizing-up-the-food-system-us-consumers-perceptions-of-food-system-firm-sizes-and-pricing.html</li> </ol>   <ol start="34"> <li>Kalaitzandonakes, M; Ellison, B; and Coppess, J. 2024. "Fair Fare? US Consumers’ Perceptions of Food Pricing ‘Fairness’ in Restaurants and Grocery Stores." farmdoc daily (14):113 https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2024/06/fair-fare-us-consumers-perceptions-of-food-pricing-fairness-in-restaurants-and-grocery-stores.html</li> </ol>   <ol start="35"> <li>Kalaitzandonakes, M; Ellison, B; and Coppess, J. 2024. "The Price is Right? Consumer Preferences for Food Manufacturer Responses to Increased Input Costs." farmdoc daily (14):117 https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2024/06/the-price-is-right-consumer-preferences-for-food-manufacturer-responses-to-increased-input-costs.html.</li> </ol>   <ol start="36"> <li>Kelley, K. M. (September 14, 2024). "Agritourism Marketing," Starting & Improving Farms Conference, Penn State Extension, State College, PA, 12 in attendance, Invited.</li> </ol>   <ol start="37"> <li>Kelley, K. M., & Schmidt, C. (January 31, 2024). "Food Trends 2024," Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention, Hershey, PA, 100 in attendance, Invited. Regional.</li> </ol>   <ol start="38"> <li>Li, Y., Huang, K.M., & Guan, Z. The Squeeze on Orange Juice Industry: A Deep Dive into Supply Chain Challenges and the Impact of Citrus Greening. 2024 SAEA Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.</li> </ol>   <ol start="39"> <li>Li, Y., Huang, K.M., Bui, H., Desaeger, J., & Guan, Z. To Fumigate or Not: Optimal Nematode Management Strategy for Florida Tomato Growers. 2024 SAEA Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.</li> </ol>   <ol start="40"> <li>Love, H. A., Bergland, O., Dubey, A., Manandhar, G. “Emerging R&D Directions in Grid Research: Economics.” AGI Day 2024: Nexus of Power Systems Engineering and Advanced Analytics Toward a Resilient and Decarbonized Grid, Advanced Grid Institute, Richland, WA, August 28, 2024. Participants=200.</li> </ol>   <ol start="41"> <li>Martinez, S., L. and Zapata, S. “Trade and Agriculture in the RGV.” South Texas College Seminar. McAllen, TX. April 10, 2024. Attendance: 35</li> </ol>   <ol start="42"> <li>Rickard, B.J., Chang, Y. P., and Susskind A. Evaluating climate adaptation strategies for winegrape growers: Adopt, select, or migrate? Presented at the 6th Workshop of the Alliance for Research on Wine & Hospitality Management. Reims, France. June 27, 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="43"> <li>Rickard, B. “Situation and Outlook Report for Fruits and Vegetables.”  Presented at the Dyson School Agricultural Outlook Conference.  Ithaca, NY.  January 19, 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="44"> <li>Rihn, A., Williams, H., Chen, R., DeLong, K. 2024. Do State Marketing Programs Impact Consumer Preferences for Tomato Transplants? ASHS Conference, Honolulu, HI, Sept. 22-27, 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="45"> <li>Rihn, A.L. Engaging Fresh Produce Consumers with the Value Proposition. Organic Commercial Fruit Production Strategies for the Midwest: Marketing for Organic Fruit, virtual, March 11, 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="46"> <li>Rihn, A.L., Behe, B. 2024. An Updated-on Consumer Behavior Research for the CEA Herb Project. SCRI CEA Herb Advisory Group Meeting, Ames, IA, Sept. 11-13, 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="47"> <li>Rihn, A.L., Williams, H., Chen, R., DeLong, K. 2024. Factors Impacting Tennesseans' Purchase of Local Products. SAEA Conference presentation, Atlanta, GA, February 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="48"> <li>Rihn, A.L., Bajain, P., Walters, K., Bumgarner, N. 2024. Tennesseans’ Perceptions of and Willingness-to-pay for Nutrient Enhanced Microgreens. SAEA Conference presentation, Atlanta GA, February 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="49"> <li>Rosales, C., Rihn, A., Staples, A., Walters, K. 2024. From Farm to Table: The Role of Sustainability and CEA in Shaping U.S. Consumer Choices for Fresh Herbs. Presented at the 100,000 Strong in the Americas CLIMA Conference, Montevideo, Uruguay. 30 July 2024. https://www.100kstrongamericas.org</li> </ol>   <ol start="50"> <li>Schmidt, C., & Kelley, K. M. (January 31, 2024). "Making Agritourism Accessible," Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention, Hershey, PA, 100 in attendance, Invited. Regional.</li> </ol>   <ol start="51"> <li>Schmidt, C., & Kelley, K. M., Centinari, M., Hickey, C., & Leach, H. (March 2, 2023 - Present). "Gauging the Economic Impact of Spotted Lanternfly for Grape Growers & Wineries," 2023 Pennsylvania Grape and Wine Industry Conference, State College, PA, Invited.</li> </ol>   <ol start="52"> <li>Strahan, R., Bampasidou, M., and K. Fontenot. 2024. “Mitigating Herbicide Damage to Specialty Crops: Herbicide Drift”. PUB. 3931-A.https://www.lsuagcenter.com/~/media/system/6/f/e/8/6fe8c043bd43d56c862c4e5b225ce587/p3931a_herbicide_drift_1a_agpdf.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="53"> <li>Velandia, M. The Role of U.S. Temporary Foreign Worker Visa Program in Addressing the Green Industry Labor Needs: Challenges and Opportunities. Interest Group Session, 'Understanding Labor Constraints and Opportunities, and Behavioral, Economic, Engineering, and Production Influences on Automation Adoption in the Green Industry.' ASHS Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, September 23 - 27, 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="54"> <li>Velandia, M., Bedwell, M., Lambert, H., Bergeron, B., Sammons, L., Rickman, S., Lamb, E., Powell, L., Rihn, A., and Shanto, H.H. 2024. Price Trends at Tennessee Farmers Markets 2018-2023. Food Distribution Research Society, San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 20 to 22, 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="55"> <li>Velandia, M., Rudolph, R., Wszelaki, A., and Schexnayder, S. 2024. Soilborne Disease, Plant-parasitic Nematode, Insect Pest, and Weed Challenges Faced by High Tunnel Growers and Preferred Strategies to Overcome Those Challenges: Preliminary Results from a Kentucky Farmer Survey. ASHS Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, September 23 - 27, 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="56"> <li>Velandia, M. Labor Considerations for Tennessee Farmers: Strategies for Securing and Managing Agricultural Labor. 2024 Pick Tennessee Products Conference, February 15 to 17, 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="57"> <li>Waltman, W., Bampasidou, M., Strahan, R., Fontenot, K., and Holzapfel, A. 2024. “Mitigating Herbicide Damage to Specialty Crops: Pesticide Tank Cleaning Notes and Procedures”, PUB. 3931-B. https://www.lsuagcenter.com/~/media/system/f/d/b/5/fdb525224354051138865d4c264212b8/p3931b_pesticide_tank_cleaning_notes_agpdf.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="58"> <li>Zapata, S.D. “International Trade of Agricultural Products.” Guest lecture. Global Fresh Produce Market. TAMUK Citrus Center. Weslaco, TX. June 05, 2024. Attendance: 20.</li> </ol>   Publications   State, Station or Agency:   <ol> <li>Bolda, M., Tourte, L., Murdock, J., and Goodrich, B. 2024 Sample Costs to Establish, Produce, and Harvest Fresh Market Blackberries (Primocane Bearing), Central Coast Region (Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito Counties). https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/2024/04/23/2024Blackberries-CorrectedFINAL-APRIL2024.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="2"> <li>Bolda, M., Tourte, L., Murdock, J., and Goodrich, B. 2024 Sample Costs to Produce and Harvest Strawberries, Central Coast Region (Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito Counties). https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/2024/04/04/2024Strawberry-FULL-FINAL-March2024.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="3"> <li>Bolda, M., Tourte, L., Murdock, J., and Goodrich, B. 2024 Sample Costs to Produce and Harvest Organic Strawberries (Fresh Market), Central Coast Region (Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito Counties). https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/2024/05/10/2024OrgStrawberries-FINAL-May2024.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="4"> <li>Cooper, C. and Thilmany, D. 2024. Food Security in the Post-Pandemic Food Environment. Consumer Food Insight 3.08. Available at https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/.</li> </ol>   <ol start="5"> <li>Elkins, R., Leingfelder-Miles, Goncalves, C., Murdock, J., Long, P. and Goodrich, B. 2023 Sample Costs to Produce Pears (Green Bartlett) in the Sacramento River Delta-Sacramento County. https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/2024/05/02/23PearsSV-4.23.24.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="6"> <li>Fichtner, E., Culumber, M., Murdock, J., and Goodrich, B. 2023 Sample Costs to Establish and Produce English Walnuts in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/2024/03/27/23WalnutsSacVal-Final-3.26.24.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="7"> <li>Fichtner, E., Murdock, J., and Goodrich, B. 2023 Sample Costs to Establish an Orchard and Produce Prunes (French Variety) in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/2024/03/27/2023.Prunes.SJV-Final-3.25.24.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="8"> <li>Fonsah, E. G., & Hancock G. 2024. “Bell Pepper Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. https://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</li> </ol>   <ol start="9"> <li>Fonsah, E. G., & Hancock G. 2024. “Cabbage Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. https://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</li> </ol>   <ol start="10"> <li>Fonsah, E. G., & Hancock G. 2024. “Onion Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. https://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</li> </ol>   <ol start="11"> <li>Fonsah, E. G., & Hancock G. 2024. “Pecan Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. https://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</li> </ol>   <ol start="12"> <li>Fonsah, E. G., & Hancock G. 2024. “Satsuma Citrus Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. https://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</li> </ol>   <ol start="13"> <li>Fonsah, E. G., & Hancock G. 2024. “Squash – Bare ground Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. https://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</li> </ol>   <ol start="14"> <li>Fonsah, E. G., & Hancock G. 2024. “Strawberry Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. https://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</li> </ol>   <ol start="15"> <li>Fonsah, E. G., & Hancock G. 2024. “Sweet Corn Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. https://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</li> </ol>   <ol start="16"> <li>Fonsah, E. G., & Hancock G. 2024. “Watermelon Enterprise Budget” Department of Ag & Applied Economics, University of Georgia. https://agecon.uga.edu/extension/budgets.html</li> </ol>   <ol start="17"> <li>Fonsah, E.G., Production and Marketing of Onions. In: Onion Production Guide, University of Georgia, Extension Publication, Bull: 1198: 61-64 (Revised August).</li> </ol>   <ol start="18"> <li>Fonsah, E.G., Production Cost of Onions. In: Onion Production Guide, University of Georgia, Extension Publication, Bull: 1198-64-70 (Revised August).</li> </ol>   <ol start="19"> <li>Fonsah, E.G., and Campbell, B. 2024. 2024 Vegetables and Pulses Outlook. University of Georgia, Annual Publication 130-2-11. https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=AP130-2-11</li> </ol>   <ol start="20"> <li>Fonsah, E.G., and Hancock, G. 2024. Marketing. In: Commercial Pepper Production Handbook, University of Georgia, Extension Publication, Bull-1309:1-75 (Revised September).</li> </ol>   <ol start="21"> <li>Fonsah, E.G., and Hancock, G. 2024. Production Costs. In: Commercial Pepper Production Handbook, University of Georgia, Extension Publication, Bull-1309:1-75 (Revised September).</li> </ol>   <ol start="22"> <li>Fonsah, E.G., and Hancock, G. 2024. Southern Highbush Blueberry Marketing and Economics, University of Georgia, Extension Publication, Bull-1413:1-14 (Revised October).</li> </ol>   <ol start="23"> <li>Gallardo, R.K., Galinato, S., and Sallato-Carmona, B. “2024 Cost and Return Estimates of Establishing, Producing, and Packing ‘Gala’ Apples in Washington"– Washington State University Extension Bulletin. Accepted. October 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="24"> <li>Gallardo, R.K., Galinato, S., and Sallato-Carmona, B. “2024 Cost and Return Estimates of Establishing, Producing, and Packing ‘Granny Smith’ Apples in Washington"– Washington State University Extension Bulletin. Accepted. October 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="25"> <li>Gallardo, R.K., Galinato, S., and Sallato-Carmona, B. “2024 Cost and Return Estimates of Establishing, Producing, and Packing ‘Honeycrisp’ Apples in Washington"– Washington State University Extension Bulletin. Accepted. October 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="26"> <li>Gallardo, R.K., Galinato, S., and Sallato-Carmona, B. “2024 Cost and Return Estimates of Establishing, Producing, and Packing Cosmic Crisp® Apples in Washington"– Washington State University Extension Bulletin. Accepted. October 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="27"> <li>Gill, M and Thilmany, D. June 2024. Consumers’ Online Shopping Part 1: An Overview of Online Shopping Trends. Consumer Food Insight 3.03. Available at https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Consumer-Food-Insights-3.03-Online-Shopping-Trends-Part-1_508-Compliant.pdf.</li> </ol>   <ol start="28"> <li>Gill, M and Thilmany, June 2024. Food Security in the Post-Pandemic Food Environment. Consumer Food Insight 3.06. Available at  https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consumer-Food-Insights-3.06-Food-Security.pdf.</li> </ol>   <ol start="29"> <li>Goodrich, B. 2024 Almond Pollination: Economic Outlook and Other Considerations. Bee Culture Magazine. January 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="30"> <li>Goodrich, B. Almond Pollination Season Outlook: How to Cut Pollination Expenses and Other Considerations. West Coast Nut Magazine. January 2024. https://issuu.com/myaglife/docs/wcn_january_e?fr=sZDM3ZTYzNjI3MDI</li> </ol>   <ol start="31"> <li>Hammami, A. M., Huang, K. M., & Guan, Z. 2024. An Overview of the Avocado Market in the United States: FE1150. 8/2024. EDIS, 2024(4). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-fe1150-2024</li> </ol>   <ol start="32"> <li>Hancock, G. and Fonsah, E.G., Marketing of Watermelon. In: Commercial Watermelon Production, University of Georgia, Extension Publication, Bull: 996:1-64 (Revised August).</li> </ol>   <ol start="33"> <li>Hancock, G., and Fonsah, E.G., Production Cost of Watermelon. In: Commercial Watermelon Production Handbook, University of Georgia, Extension Publication, Bull: 996:1-64 (Revised August).https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2024/01/27/importance-of-irrigation-water-to-lower-rio-grande-valley-agriculture-highlighted-in-new-report/</li> </ol>   <ol start="34"> <li>Leingfelder-Miles, Light, S.E., Clark, N.E., Long, P. and Goodrich, B. 2023 Sample Costs to Produce Baby Lima Beans Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley North. https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/2024/03/28/2023%20Baby%20Lima%20Final.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="35"> <li>McKim, K., Fulcher, A., Rihn, A. L., Warner, L., LeBude, A.V., Velandia, M., Bumgarner, N. R., and Schexnayder, S. M. 2024. The Role of Automation in Addressing the Nursery Industry Labor Shortage Part II: Advances in Automation within Task. UT Extension Publication, in press.</li> </ol>   <ol start="36"> <li>Niederholzer, F., Ott, J., Jarvis-Shean, K.S., Wheeler-Dykes, B., Pierce, C., Gyawaly, S., Agyeman, D., Murdock, J., Long,P., and Goodrich, B. 2024 Sample Costs to Establish and Orchard and Produce Almonds, Sacramento Valley Micro-Sprinkler Irrigation. https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/2024/07/09/2024SacValleyAlmonds7.5.24.%20Final%20draft.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="37"> <li>Rihn, A. Plant Benefit Information for Marketing Herbs, Fruit and Vegetable Plants. e-GRO Blog. 5/16/2024. <a href="https://www.egroblog.com/showblog.php?ID=229">https://www.egroblog.com/showblog.php?ID=229</a></li> </ol>   <ol start="38"> <li>Rossi, J. and Thilmany, D. 2024. Appalachia Local and Regional Food Market Usage in 2022 & 2023. Consumer Food Insight. https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> </ol>   <ol start="39"> <li>Rossi, J. and Thilmany, D. 2024. Delta Local and Regional Food Market Usage in 2022 & 2023. Consumer Food Insight.https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> </ol>   <ol start="40"> <li>Rossi, J. and Thilmany, D. 2024. Great Lakes Midwest Local and Regional Food Market Usage in 2022 & 2023. Consumer Food Insight. https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> </ol>   <ol start="41"> <li>Rossi, J. and Thilmany, D. 2024. Heartland Local and Regional Food Market Usage in 2022 & 2023. Consumer Food Insight. https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> </ol>   <ol start="42"> <li>Rossi, J. and Thilmany, D. 2024. North Central Local and Regional Food Market Usage in 2022 & 2023. Consumer Food Insight. https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> </ol>   <ol start="43"> <li>Rossi, J. and Thilmany, D. 2024. Northeast Local and Regional Food Market Usage in 2022 & 2023. Consumer Food Insight. https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> </ol>   <ol start="44"> <li>Rossi, J. and Thilmany, D. 2024. Northwest and Rocky Mountain Local and Regional Food Market Usage in 2022 & 2023. Consumer Food Insight. https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> </ol>   <ol start="45"> <li>Rossi, J. and Thilmany, D. 2024. Rio Grande and Colonias Local and Regional Food Market Usage in 2022 & 2023. Consumer Food Insight. https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> </ol>   <ol start="46"> <li>Rossi, J. and Thilmany, D. 2024. Southeast Local and Regional Food Market Usage in 2022 & 2023. Consumer Food Insight. https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> </ol>   <ol start="47"> <li>Rossi, J. and Thilmany, D. 2024. Southwest Local and Regional Food Market Usage in 2022 & 2023. Consumer Food Insight. https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/consumer-food-insights/</li> </ol>   <ol start="48"> <li>San Luis Valley Community Food & Agricultural Steering Committee (Thilmany, D. and other CSU colleagues were part of writing team). May 2024. SLV Community Food & Agricultural Assessment. Posted at: https://slvlocalfoods.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CFAA-2024_digital_May25.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="49"> <li>Schmidt, C., & Kelley, K. M. "Creating an Inclusive Agritourism Experience." Penn State Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/creating-an-inclusive-agritourism-experience.</li> </ol>   <ol start="50"> <li>Schmidt, C., & Kelley, K. M. "Food Trends 2024." 2024 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention Proceedings. (pp. 52-53).</li> </ol>   <ol start="51"> <li>Schmidt, C., & Kelley, K. M. "Food Trends for 2024." Penn State Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/food-trends-2024</li> </ol>   <ol start="52"> <li>Velandia, M., Bedwell, E., Lambert, H., Bergerson, B., Sammons, L., Rickman, S., Lamb, E., Powell, L., Rihn, L., and Shanto, H.H. 2024. Price Trends at Tennessee Farmers Markets 2018-2023. UT Extension Publication, W1270.</li> </ol>   <ol start="53"> <li>Wilson, R., Long,P., Charlton, B.A., Davison, S. and Goodrich, B. 2023 Sample Costs to Produce Potatoes- Fresh Market in the Klamath Basin. https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/2024/05/10/23PotatoFreshMktKlamath-Final.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="54"> <li>Wilson, R., Long,P., Charlton, B.A., Davison, S. and Goodrich, B. 2023 Sample Costs to Produce Potatoes-Chippers for Processing in the Klamath Basin. https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/2024/05/10/23PotatoChipperKlamath-FINAL.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="55"> <li>Wilson, R., Long,P., Charlton, B.A., Davison, S. and Goodrich, B. 2023 Sample Costs to Produce Onions for Dehydrating in the Intermountain Region Tulelake and Klamath Basins. <a href="https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/2024/05/10/2023Onions-Final.pdf">https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/2024/05/10/2023Onions-Final.pdf</a></li> </ol>   <ol start="56"> <li>Zapata, S.D. AgriLife Today. “Importance of irrigation water to Lower Rio Grande Valley agriculture highlighted in new report.” January 27, 2024. https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2024/01/27/importance-of-irrigation-water-to-lower-rio-grande-valley-agriculture-highlighted-in-new-report/</li> </ol>    Refereed Conference Proceedings:   <ol> <li>Amon, K., Wade, T., and Gao, Z. 2024. “Willingness to pay for pest management information: Evidence from specialty crop growers.” In 2024 Annual Meeting, July, New Orleans LA. Agricultural and Applied Economics Association</li> </ol>   <ol start="2"> <li>Cao, T., House, L., Gao, Z., and Wang, Y. 2024. “Consumer Preferences for Sweeteners in Energy Drinks Exploring the Taste: Consumer Choice of Sweeteners in Energy Beverages” In 2024 Annual Meeting, July, New Orleans LA. Agricultural and Applied Economics Association</li> </ol>   <ol start="3"> <li>Fasakin, I. J., Fonsah, E. G., Oni, O. A., Omonona, B.T., Sowunmi, F.A. 2024. “Impact of an integrated rice-fish system on farming households' profitability in Nigeria an endogenous switching regression model”. Southern Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA), 57th Annual Meeting, (February 1-4, 2025), Irving Texas Convention Westin Irving Hotel, Las Colinas (Submitted Abstract).</li> </ol>   <ol start="4"> <li>Kalaitzandonakes, M. and Ridley, W. 2024. "Food Manufacturers’ Decision Making Under Varying State Regulation." Bock Food Law and Policy Conference, Illinois State Bar Association. Online.</li> </ol>   <ol start="5"> <li>Kalaitzandonakes, M. Hutchins, J., and Mashange, G. 2024. "Consumer Demand for Diversity in Agriculture." Farm Foundation & USDA ERS’s Agricultural Policy, Economics, and Diverse Farms and Farmers Conference. Online.</li> </ol>    Refereed Journal Articles   <ol> <li>Ahles, A., Palma, M.A., and Drichoutis, A.C. 2024. “Testing the effectiveness of lottery incentives in online experiments.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics. Vol. 106(4): 1435-1453. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajae.12460</li> </ol>   <ol start="2"> <li>Amin, M.D., Badruddoza, S., McCluskey, J.J., and Astill, G. 2024. “Product Differentiation in the Fruit Industry: Lessons from Trademarked Apples,” Agribusiness (won best published article in Specialty Crop Economics, AAEA) https://doi.org/10.1002 /agr.21937</li> </ol>   <ol start="3"> <li>Bauman, A., Jablonski, B.B.R., Yeh, A., Chenarides, L., and Thilmany, D. Federal Economic Data on Local and Regional Food Producers. Journal of Agriculture and Applied Economics (3):537–555. DOI: 10.1002/jaa2.131</li> </ol>   <ol start="4"> <li>Bumgarner, N., Rihn,, Campbell, J., and Dorn, S. 2024. “Growing the next generation of horticulture customers and stakeholders through industry and Extension outreach collaborations.” Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 42(1): 23-30.</li> </ol>   <ol start="5"> <li>Canales, E., Gallardo, R. K., Iorizzo, M., Muñoz, P., Ferrao, L., Luby, C., Bassil, N., Pottorff, M., Perkins, P., Sandefur, P., Colonna, A., and Sims, C. 2024. Willingness to Pay for Blueberries: Sensory Attributes, Fruit Quality Traits, and Consumers’ Characteristics. HortScience 59(8): 1207-1218. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17947-24.</li> </ol>   <ol start="6"> <li>Chen, X., Gao, Z., House, L., & Gao, Y. 2024. “Do color -coded nutrition facts panels nudge the use of nutrition information?” Food Policy, 129, 102730.</li> </ol>   <ol start="7"> <li>Fasakin, I. J., Fonsah, E.G. and Oni, O. A., 2024. “Socio‑Economic Drivers of Food Security Among Rural Households: Evidence from Smallholder Rice Farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria”. Qeios: Open Peer Review Journal:1-19 https://doi.org/10.32388/035TLX (April 29)</li> </ol>   <ol start="8"> <li>Fasakin, I. J., Fonsah, E.G., Oni, O. A., Ajani, E.I., Omitoyin, B.O., Halwart, M., Bart, A., and Oladeji, K. 2024. “Consumer Preference for Locally Produced Rice in Northwest and Southeast Nigeria”.  Global Scientific Journal (GSJ): Vol. 12 (8) </li> </ol>   <ol start="9"> <li>Fenton, M., Goodrich, B. and Penn, J. “Measuring Beekeepers’ Economic Value of Contract Enhancements in Almond Pollination Agreements” Ecological Economics, 2025, 227:108351.</li> </ol>   <ol start="10"> <li>Fields, J., Nackley, L. L., Shreckhise, J.H., Bampasidou, M. et al. 2024. “An Exploration of how Natural Resources, Consumer Perceptions, and Labor are Transforming the U.S. Nursery Industry”. HortTechnology. 34(4), 424-429. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05410-24</li> </ol>   <ol start="11"> <li>Yu, Y., Velandia, D. G. Hayes, L. W. DeVetter, C. A. Miles, and M. Flury. 2024. “Biodegradable plastics as alternative for polyethylene mulch films.” Advances in Agronomy, 183: 121-192.</li> </ol>   <ol start="12"> <li>Fonsah, E.G., and Kunwar, S.R. 2024. “Economics of Satsuma Citrus Production Using Drip Irrigation and Frost Protection in the United States”. Agri Res & Tech: Open Access J. 28(4):1-11: ARTOAJ.MS.ID.556416 (June).</li> </ol>   <ol start="13"> <li>Gallardo, R.K. A Review of Agriculture’s Environmental Impacts and Adaptation Strategies. International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics, 18: 165-235. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/101.00000166.</li> </ol>   <ol start="14"> <li>Gallardo, R.K., A. Gutierrez-Li, J. Luckstead, R.M. Nayga Jr., B. Sallato, and W. Yang. 2024. H-2A Workers’ Preferences for Job Attributes: Evidence from an Experiment. Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaa2.137</li> </ol>   <ol start="15"> <li>Giscombe, S., Canales, E., Davis, W., Kim, A., and Buys, D. 2024. Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables and the Role of the Food Environment. Journal of Food Distribution Research 55(2):23-45.</li> </ol>   <ol start="16"> <li>Gonzalez, L., Ho, S.-T., Rickard, B.J., Fazio, G., Reig, G., Lordan, J., Hoying, S.A., Fargione, M.J., Miranda Sazo, M., and Robinson, T.L. 2024. Estimated Economic Impacts of Fire Blight on Long-Term Orchard Economic Performance with Susceptible and Disease Resistant Rootstocks. Scientia Horticulturae 337, Article 113478. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304423824006356</li> </ol>   <ol start="17"> <li>Ho, S.-T., Nieto, L.G., Rickard, B.J., Reig, G., Lordan, J., Fazio, G., Hoying, S.A., Fargione, M.J., Miranda Sazo, M., and Robinson, T.L. 2024. Effects of cultivar, planting density and rootstock on long-term economic performance of apple orchards in the Northeastern U.S. Scientia Horticulturae 332, Article 113194. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304423824003534</li> </ol>   <ol start="18"> <li>Huang, K. M., Farnsworth, D., Guan, Z., & Li, Y. 2024. E-Verify and Its Implications for US Agriculture. Choices, 39(1), 1-10. https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/339723/files/March%2012%202024.pdf?version=1</li> </ol>   <ol start="19"> <li>Huang, Y.K., Palma, M.A., and J. Rangel. 2024. “Can A Local Food Label Nudge Consumer Behavior? Implications of An Eye-Tracking Study of Honey Products.” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics. Vol. 56(1): 101-119. https://doi.org/10.1017/aae.2024.2</li> </ol>   <ol start="20"> <li>Johnson, S.R., Brady, M.P., McCluskey, J.J. Factors Affecting the Duration of Agricultural Marketing Orders, Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Volume 49, Issue 3: 550-571</li> </ol>   <ol start="21"> <li>Knuth, M., Rihn, A.L., Torres, A.P., Behe, B.K., Boyer, C., and Khachatryan, H. 2024. Social Media Usage Among Green Industry Firms. Journal of Environmental Horticulture.</li> </ol>   <ol start="22"> <li>Krasovskaia, E., Rickard, J., Ellison, B., McFadden, B. and Wilson, N. 2024. Food labeling: Ingredient exemptions and product claims. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 53(2): 298–319. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/age.2024.2</li> </ol>   <ol start="23"> <li>Kunwar, S. R., Fonsah, G., and Escalante, C. 2024. “An Assessment of Productivity and Profitability Using Monte Carlo Simulation Approach:  A Case of Georgia Blueberry Industry”</li> </ol>   <ol start="24"> <li>Liu, H., Qu, N., Gonzalez, N., Palma, M., Chen, H.M., Xiong, J.N., Choubey, A., Li, Y., Li, X., Yu, M., Liu, H., Tu, L., Zhang, N., Yin, N., Conde, K., Wang, M., Bean, J., Han, J., Scarcelli, N., Yang, Y., Saito, K., Cui, H., Tong, Q., Sun, Z., Wang, C., Cai, X., Lu, L., He, Y., and Y. Xu. 2024. “A light-responsive neural circuit suppresses feeding.” Journal of Neuroscience. 44(30): e2192232024; https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2192-23.2024</li> </ol>   <ol start="25"> <li>Ma, X., Gallardo, R., Canales, E., Atucha, A., Zalapa, J., and Iorizzo, M. 2024. Consumers’ Discount for Added Sugars: An Application to Cranberry Products Under Different Nutrition-Related Information Treatments. Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaa2.121.</li> </ol>   <ol start="26"> <li>Ma, X., Gallardo, R., Canales, E., Atucha, A., Zalapa, J., and Iorizzo, M. 2024. Would Consumers Accept CRISPR Fruit Crops if the Benefit Has Health Implications? An Application to Cranberry Products. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review. 1-23. https://doi:10.1017/age.2023.38.</li> </ol>   <ol start="27"> <li>Ma, X., Gallardo, R., Canales, E., Atucha, A., Zalapa, J., and Iorizzo, M. 2024. “Effects of the added sugar labeling on consumers’ willingness to pay: The case of cranberry products under different nutrition-related information treatments.” Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association 3(2):424−444. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jaa2.121.</li> </ol>   <ol start="28"> <li>Ma, X., Gallardo, R., Canales, E., Atucha, A., Zalapa, J., and Iorizzo, M 2024. “Would Consumers Accept CRISPR Fruit Crops if the Benefit Has Health Implications?” An Application to Cranberry Products. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 53(2):228-250. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/age.2023.38</li> </ol>   <ol start="29"> <li>Ma, X., Gallardo,K., Canales, E. and Iorizzo, M. 2024. “Quality-Related Descriptors to Increase Fresh Blueberries Purchase - Evidence from a Basket-Based Choice Experiment.” Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association 3(2):376−395. DOI: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jaa2.118</li> </ol>   <ol start="30"> <li>Ma, X., Gallardo,K., Canales, E. and Iorizzo, M. 2024. Quality-Related Descriptors to Increase Fresh Blueberries Purchase - Evidence from a Basket-Based Choice Experiment. Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaa2.118</li> </ol>   <ol start="31"> <li>Marques, JR., Rosales, C., Ulloa, M.C., Torres, A.P., Karam, A.A., and Mohammed, R. 2024. Olive Market Analysis in Nineveh Plains, Iraq. USAID Publication.</li> </ol>   <ol start="32"> <li>Montero, M.L., Colonna, A.E., Gallardo, R.K., and Ross, C.F. 2024. Sensory Profiling of Pears from the Pacific Northwest: Consumers’ Perspective and Descriptive Analysis. Journal of Food Science, 89: 1225-1242. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.16913.</li> </ol>   <ol start="33"> <li>Murray, A.D., Gallardo, R.K., and Prakash, A. 2024. Mexican Consumers’ Attitudes towards Irradiated and Imported Apples. Agribusiness An International Journal, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21922.</li> </ol>   <ol start="34"> <li>Nitto, A., Crespo-Bellido, M., Yenerall, , Anderson Steeves, E., Kersten, S., Vest, D., and Hill, J. 2024. “Mixed methods evaluation of the COVID-19 changes to the WIC cash-value benefit for fruits and vegetables.” Frontiers in Public Health. 12:1371697, 2024.</li> </ol>   <ol start="35"> <li>Okhunjanov, B.B., McCluskey, J., Mittelhammer, R.C. “Weather and Cult Wine Prices.” Journal of Wine Economics doi:10.1017/jwe.2024.19.</li> </ol>   <ol start="36"> <li>Pierre, J., Jacobsen, K., Wszelaki, A. L., Butler, D. M., Velandia, , Woods, T., Sideman, R., Grossman, J., Coolong, T., Hoskins, B., Biscaia Ribeiro da Silva, A.L., Ginakes, P., Kleinhenz, M., Zhao, X., Rivard, C., and Rudolph, R.E. 2024. “Sustaining soil health in high tunnels: A paradigm shift toward soil-centered management.” HortTechnology, 34(5), 594-603.</li> </ol>   <ol start="37"> <li>Pierre, J., Jacobsen, K., Wszelaki, A. L., Butler, D. M., Velandia, , Woods, T., Sideman, R., Grossman, J., Coolong, T., Hoskins, B., Biscaia Ribeiro da Silva, A.L., Ginakes, P., Kleinhenz, M., Zhao, X., Rivard, C., and Rudolph R.E. 2024. “Sustaining soil health in high tunnels: A paradigm shift toward soil-centered management”, HortTechnology, 34(5):594-603. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05460-24</li> </ol>   <ol start="38"> <li>Rihn A.L., Torres A.P., Behe B.K., Barton S. 2024. Unwrapping the Native Plant Black Box: Consumer Perceptions and Segments for Target Marketing Strategies. American Journal of Agricultural Economics.</li> </ol>   <ol start="39"> <li>Rihn, A.L., Walters, K., and Bumgarner, N. 2024. “The influence of risk perceptions on consumer willingness-to-pay for nutrient enhanced microgreens.” HortScience, 59(10):1465–1474. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17888-24</li> </ol>   <ol start="40"> <li>Rihn, A.L., Labbe, N., Rajan, K., Kamboj, G., Tiller, K., Jackson, S., and Jensen, K. 2024. “Consumers’ perceptions of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and bio-based treatments on disposable dinnerware.” Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101436</li> </ol>   <ol start="41"> <li>Robinson, T.L., Gonzalez Nieto, L., Ho, S.-T., Rickard, J., Reig, G., Lordan, J., Fazio, G., Hoying, S.A., Fargione, M.J., and Miranda Sazo, M. 2024. Economic Impact of Fire Blight with Susceptible and Resistant Rootstocks. Fruit Quarterly 32(3): 15– 22.</li> </ol>   <ol start="42"> <li>Robinson, T.L., Gonzalez Nieto, L., Ho, S.-T., Rickard, J., Reig, G., Lordan, J., Fazio, G., Hoying, S.A., Fargione, M.J., and Miranda Sazo, M.]. 2024. Apple Orchard Economics: Effects of Cultivar, Planting Density. And Rootstock. Fruit Quarterly 32(2): 4 – 11. Available at: https://nyshs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/NYFQ-BOOK-Summer-2024_FINAL_CC_052524.pdf</li> </ol>   <ol start="43"> <li>Rossi, J. & Woods, T. 2024, “Placing Community Supported Agriculture in Local Food Systems”, International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, accepted for publication, February, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2024.2318936</li> </ol>   <ol start="44"> <li>Thilmany, D., Van Sandt, A., and Gwin, L. 2024. A comment on USDA Food Business Centers: Collaborations to nurture innovation in the food system. Food Policy: 102727</li> </ol>   <ol start="45"> <li>Torres, A.P., Rihn, A.L., Barton, S.S., and Behe, B.K. 2024. Perceptions and Socio-Economic Status Influence Purchases of Native Plants. HortTechnology.</li> </ol>   <ol start="46"> <li>Traldi R. and Torres AP. 2024. It’s all about the economics: Navigating the challenges and opportunities of agricultural diversification in the U.S. Corn Belt. Agriculture and Human Values.</li> </ol>   <ol start="47"> <li>Ulloa M.C., Marques J.M.R., Velasco J.E., Philocles S., Torres A.P. 2024. Characterizing The US Market for Salad Mixes Through the Lens of Environmental Preferences. HortScience</li> </ol>   <ol start="48"> <li>Velasco, J.E., Marques, J.R., Torres A.P, Marshall, M.I., and Deering, A. 2024.S. Consumer Food Safety Concerns for Fresh Vegetables: A Cluster Analysis. Food Control.</li> </ol>   <ol start="49"> <li>Yoon, S., House, L., Gao, , Grogan, K., and Mullally, C. 2024. “Is environmental consciousness associated with organic food consumption?: A revealed preference approach.” Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association 3(2):396–409.</li> </ol>   <ol start="50"> <li>Zapata, S.D. and Carpio, C. Distribution-Free Methods to Estimate Willingness to Pay Models Using Discrete Response Valuation Data. 2024. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics 49(1): 39-62.</li> </ol>   Forthcoming Publications:   <ol> <li>Brumfield, R., Greenwood, D. L., Flahive Di Nardo, M., Both, A.J., Heckman, J. R., Polanin, N., Rouff, A., Rowe, A., VanVranken, R., Arumugam, S., and Govindasamy, R. Annie’s Project: Farming in Cities and the Urban Fringe. Journal of Extension. (Forthcoming).</li> </ol>   <ol start="2"> <li>Fontenot, K., Bampasidou, , Strahan, R., and Holzapfel, A. “Planning a Workshop and Survey to Provide Vegetable Producers with Knowledge and Information Related to Mitigating and Managing Herbicide Drift Incidents. Journal of National Association County Agricultural Agents, (Forthcoming)</li> </ol>   <ol start="3"> <li>Govindasamy, R., Bayramoglu, Z., Agizan K., Analysis of Fluctuations in Prices of Agricultural Products with Cross-Sectional Dependence, Agrociencia Journal (ISSN: 2521-9766) (Forthcoming).</li> </ol>   <ol start="4"> <li>Hosni, H., Segovia, M., Zhao, S., Palma, M.A., and Skevas, T. 2024. “Improving Consumer Understanding of Pesticide Toxicity Labels: Experimental Evidence.” Scientific Reports. (Forthcoming).</li> </ol>   <ol start="5"> <li>Landini, A., Segovia, M., Palma, M., and R.M. Nayga. “Food for Thought: The Impact of Short Term Fasting on Cognitive Ability.” PLos ONE. (Forthcoming).</li> </ol>   <ol start="6"> <li>Love, E., Jablonski, B.B.R., Bellows, L., and Thilmany, D. A Baseline Assessment of School Food Spending and Local Procurement: Exploring the Case of Colorado’s Farm to School State Incentive and Other Public Policies. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review. (Forthcoming)</li> </ol>   <ol start="7"> <li>Malinovskaya, A., Richards, T.J., and Rickard, B.J. 2024. Destination categories, channel choice, and beer distribution laws. American Journal of Agricultural Economics (Forthcoming).</li> </ol>   <ol start="8"> <li>Staples, A.J. “Canning cannabis: Consumer preferences for CBD- and THC-infused beverages.” Journal of Wine Economics. (Forthcoming)</li> </ol>   <ol start="9"> <li>Yu, Z., Xu, H., Govindasamy, R., Van Wyk, E., Ozkan, B., and Simon, J. E. An Analysis of Factors Influencing African Indigenous Vegetable Farmers’ Bargaining Power: A Case Study from Zambia. Journal of Agricultural Sciences. (Forthcoming).</li> </ol>   <ol start="10"> <li>Zapata, S.D., Villavicencio, X., Marconi, T., and Avila, C. “Using sensory analysis and stated preference valuation to assess the Willingness to Pay for fresh tomatoes attributes.” Agribusiness: An International Journal. (Forthcoming.)</li> </ol>   Books and Book Chapters   <ol> <li>Boyhan, G.E., Culpepper, S., Fonsah, E.G., Sparks, A. N., Coolong, T., Dutta, B., Riley, D.G., and Hurst, W.C. 2024. Onion Production Guide. 48 pages. https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1198&title=onion-production-guide.     </li> </ol>   <ol start="2"> <li>McAvoy, T., Coolong, T., Hancock, G., Fonsah, E.G., Boyhan, G.E., Granberry, D. M., Kelley, T., W., Gay, J.D., Adams, D., Sumner, P.E., Tyson, A.W., Harrison, K., MacDonald, G., Hurst, W.C., 2024. Commercial Watermelon Production Guide, 40 pages. https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B996&title=commercial-watermelon-production#Culture</li> </ol>   Grants, Contracts, and/or other resources obtained by one or more project members as a result of the project's activities (include the recipients, funding source, amount awarded and term if applicable):    <ol> <li>Bampasidou, M “Farm Labor Supply and Demand Adapting to Labor Market Shocks” LA Board of Regents Research Competitiveness Subprogram. </li> </ol>   <ol start="2"> <li>Butler, D., Wszelaki, A., Velandia, M., Chen, L., Shekoofa, A., Trejo-Pech, C. “Alley Cropping Agroforestry as a Climate Change Resiliency Strategy for Vegetable Production in the Southeastern US” Southern Region SARE Program </li> </ol>   <ol start="3"> <li>DeLong, K.L., Hughes, D.W., Rihn,, Chen, X., Painter, R. “Developing a successful marketing channel for rural wineries in Tennessee.” USDA - FSMIP.  </li> </ol>   <ol start="4"> <li>Fonsah, Greg. PI: Malla, Subas, TAMU “Mechanical harvesting management practices and analysis of adoption barriers approach for sustainable management of fresh market onion production in the Southeastern United States” UDSA NIFA/Specialty Crop Research Initiative. </li> </ol>   <ol start="3"> <li>Fontenot, K. Bampasidou, M., Strahan, R. Managing Production, “Financial and Legal Risks Associated with Herbicide Drift on Small-Scale Vegetable Farms” Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center. </li> </ol>   <ol start="4"> <li>Hughes, D., Rihn,, and DeLong, K. “Economic impact of the TN wine industry.” TDA - Grape and Wine Board. </li> </ol>   <ol start="5"> <li>LeBude, A.V., Fulcher, A., Velandia, M., Warner, L., Bumgarner, N., Marble, C., Addesso, K., Altland, J., Chen, L., Gan, H., Kantor, G., Mahmoud, M.S., Nackley, L., Palma, M., Ribera, L., Rihn, A., Ruth, T., Schexnayder, S.,and Zhu, H. 2024. “Labor, Efficiency, Automation, and Production. LEAP Nursery Crops Toward Sustainability.” USDA-NIFA, Planned Performance Period: (Collaboration with North Carolina State University, Oregon State University, Texas A&M, University of Florida). </li> </ol>   <ol start="6"> <li>Lopez, R., Whipker, B., Boldt, J., Rihn,L., Currey, C.J., Shaw, A.M., Hausbeck, M., Engfehr, C., Runkle, E., Walters, K.J., Behe, B.K. “Expanding fresh culinary herb production in greenhouses.” USDA-NIFA. </li> </ol>   <ol start="7"> <li>Lu, R., Gallardo, K.R. (Co-PI). “Development of an Automated and Integrated Mobile System (AIMS) for Apple Harvest and In-field Sorting” USDA-NIFA-SCRI.  </li> </ol>   <ol start="8"> <li>Motsenbocker, C.E. Bampasidou, M., “USDA TOPP through Florida Organics. 2023-2025” Grow Louisiana Program. </li> </ol>   <ol start="9"> <li>Painter, R., Hughes, D.W., Lockwood, D., and Rihn, A. “Grape Production and Marketing: Site Selection, Preparation, Budgeting, and Marketing of Wine Grapes in the Southeastern U.S.” Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium.</li> </ol>   <ol start="10"> <li>Rihn, A.L., Walters, K., and Bumgarner, N. “Investigating new crop adoption and success in Tennessee: Production methods and marketplace acceptance of microgreens.” USDA – TDA – SCBG. </li> </ol>   <ol start="11"> <li>Rudolph, R.; Haramoto, E.; Gauthier, N.; Larson, J.; Wszelaki, A.; Hansen, Z.; Velandia, M. ''Evaluation of Soil Solarization as a Sustainable Management Method in Upper Southeast High Tunnels for Pests, Pathogens, and Weeds.'' Southern Region SARE Program (Collaboration with the University of Kentucky). </li> </ol>   <ol start="12"> <li>Staples, A.J. “Benchmarking best practices to expand craft beverage markets for the Michigan value chain” Michigan Craft Beverage Council. </li> </ol>   <ol start="13"> <li>Thomas-Sharma, S. Co-PIs Doyle, V., Price, T., Padgett, B., Connor, L., Bampasidou, M.“Evaluation of Fungicide Application Timing and Cultivar Resistance for Management of Cercospora Leaf Blight on Soybean” Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board. </li> </ol>   <ol start="14"> <li>Torres, A. “Consumer preferences for low-input attributes on fresh salad mixes: research” USDA-FNRI. </li> </ol>   <ol start="15"> <li>Torres, A. “Consumer preferences for food safety-related attributes in fresh vegetables: research” USDA-FNRI. </li> </ol>   <ol start="16"> <li>Torres, A. “Adoption of value-added technologies for specialty crops (beginning farmers, farmers): research” USDA-NIFA. </li> </ol>   <ol start="17"> <li>Torres, A. “Online curricula for contingency planning for agribusinesses: cohort and certificate from Purdue Extension” USDA-SARE. </li> </ol>   <ol start="18"> <li>Torres, A. “Market strategies for indigenous women farmers in Peru, focused on passion fruit and chocolate products with potential to export” USAID. </li> </ol>   <ol start="19"> <li>Torres, A. “Diversification of markets and market linkages in the olive industry in Iraq, with focus displaced Kurdish farmers”</li> </ol>   <ol start="20"> <li>Torres, A. “Economic impact of biological controls in high tunnel production” research and extension UDSA NIFA/Specialty Crop Research Initiative.  </li> </ol>   <ol start="21"> <li>Torres, A. “Diverse Corn Belt, Market opportunities for crops produced in diversified farming systems (regenerative agriculture): wholesalers, retailers, restaurants: research and extension” USDA Sustainable Ag Systems. </li> </ol>   <ol start="22"> <li>Walters, K., Owen, G., Sams, C., Velandia, M., Rihn, A., and Trejo-Pech, C. ''Exploring the Feasibility of End of Production Regimens To Improve Leafy Green Nutritional Content, Appearance, And Post-Harvest Longevity,'' USDA - NIFA. (Collaboration with Ohio State University). </li> </ol>   <ol start="23"> <li>Watkins, C., Rickard, B. and Gallardo, K. “Benefits of and barriers to dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) storage: Analyses needed for technology uptake by the U.S. apple industry” USDA-NIFA-SCRI.   </li> </ol>   <ol start="24"> <li>Zhong, Q., Critzer, F., Wszelaki, A., Srawn, L., Wang, L., Murphy, C., Burns, S., Dunn, L., Pires, A., Reyes-Jurado, F., Rideout, S., Rihn, A., and Yu, T.E. “Washable essential oil emulsion coatings to extend the shelf life and enhance the safety of organic fruits and vegetables.” USDA - OREI.  </li> </ol>

Impact Statements

The overarching long-term need is for food and agricultural systems to be economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. The long-term outcomes and impacts of this work are threefold. S-1088 members are (1) generating new insights about costs and benefits associated with various aspects of specialty crop production, demand for specialty crops, and specialty crop supply chains; (2) enhancing coordination among specialty crop supply chain participants; and (3) providing actionable recommendations that can be used by policymakers and supply chain stakeholders to improve outcomes for specialty crop producers, consumers, and supply chain businesses.
S-1088 team members are committed to achieving long-term positive impacts for the benefit of society through our shared research activities. Although they may differ in their details, many of the economic and supply chain challenges of fruit and vegetable production and marketing are often similar within regions. Thus, obtaining information and resources concerning a specific crop or approach from another state, and adapting it to local circumstances, or conducting research and developing materials through collaborative efforts, offers a more efficient approach to this work.
Specialty crop industries face many structural, technology, and environmental problems and opportunities. Working as a team, we are better able to provide information needed by farmers for their day-to-day management, marketing, and production decisions. A focus on emerging and adopted agricultural practices enhances understanding of the changing environment for farmers and informs future research needs and Extension programming across our states. Key targets for the research include agriculture stakeholders (growers, packinghouses), policy makers, and physical scientists such as plant breeders, horticulturalists, engineers.