James Sterns - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by James Sterns

Research paper thumbnail of Open innovation in the food and beverage industry

Research paper thumbnail of Consumer preferences, experience and credence issues and their strategic implications for French and US fresh produce sectors

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Jun 26, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of Changing Patterns of Orange Juice Consumption in the Southern United States

From 2000 through 2004, per capita orange juice purchases decreased by 12.3 percent while the pop... more From 2000 through 2004, per capita orange juice purchases decreased by 12.3 percent while the popularity and media coverage of low-carbohydrate dieting exploded. Content analysis was used to count selected Southern region newspaper articles topically related to low-carbohydrate dieting, the Atkins diet, and the South Beach diet. This data was included in a Southern region orange juice demand model, where purchase data served as the independent variable and proxy for consumer demand of orange juice. Results indicated that media coverage of low-carbohydrate diets and dieting was negatively and significantly related to demand for orange juice in the Southern region.

Research paper thumbnail of When Buying Fresh Apples and Tomatoes Will Consumers Pay Extra to Have Country of Origin Labeling?

Research paper thumbnail of COOL and Consumers' Willingness to Pay in the Fresh Produce Industry - Some Initial Impressions from the Field

The debate about Country-of-Origin labeling (COOL) has centered on the projected benefits and cos... more The debate about Country-of-Origin labeling (COOL) has centered on the projected benefits and costs of its implementation. This study uses data from a Vickery auction (n=320) to estimate willingness to pay for COOL. Preliminary findings suggest, on average, consumers value COOL, are not homogenous, and prefer fresh produce grown in the U.S.

Research paper thumbnail of Industry Networks and Sustainable Competitive Advantages in Brazilian and U.S. Processed Citrus Supply Chains

The states of Sao Paulo, Brazil and Florida, United States collectively dominate the world supply... more The states of Sao Paulo, Brazil and Florida, United States collectively dominate the world supply of orange juice. Collectively, these two regions account for over 80 percent of world processed orange production (Spreen, et al). Florida is the prime supplier to the United States and Canada, while Sao Paulo dominates world trade of orange juice and is the primary supplier to the EU market. It is these three markets - the United States, Canada and the EU - that represent the vast majority of global consumption of processed orange products (Spreen). The global dominance by these two national industries is being threatened. Both the Florida and Sao Paulo citrus industries are experiencing outbreaks of the same potentially devastating diseases - citrus canker (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri) and citrus greening (Liberibacter asiaticus). Citrus canker forms lesions on fruit, causing premature fruit drop and rendering the fruit unsuitable for fresh market sales. "In addition to lowe...

Research paper thumbnail of Estimating Consumers' Willingness-To-Pay for Country-Of-Origin Labels in Fresh Apples and Tomatoes: A Double-Hurdle Probit Analysis of American Data Using Factor Scores

Data are collected from primary shoppers in Gainesville Florida, Atlanta Georgia and Lansing Mich... more Data are collected from primary shoppers in Gainesville Florida, Atlanta Georgia and Lansing Michigan using a Vickrey (fifth-priced sealed bid) experimental auction and a survey questionnaire to provide a sample of 311 observations useable for analysis. The average willingness to pay (WTP) for country of origin labeling (COOL) "Grown in the U.S." in apples and tomatoes are calculated then tested for equivalence to assess if WTP is produce specific. A double-hurdle probit model is then estimated to ascertain the prominent determinants of WTP for COOL. Independent variables include demographics, food safety and factor scores derived from a factor analysis of food quality and food preference variables. Results show that on average consumers are willing to pay 0.49and0.49 and 0.49and0.48 for COOL in apples and tomatoes respectively with 79% of the consumers willing to pay more than $0.00 for apples labeled "Grown in the U.S." and 72% in the case of tomatoes. Premiums are found t...

Research paper thumbnail of Agribusiness and Sustainability of the Orange Juice and Sugar and Ethanol Industries of São Paulo and Florida

Key Perspectives on a New Global Power, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Decisions about exporting : the case of Michigan's smaller agribusiness and food industry firms /

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Agricultural Economics, 1997. Includes bibli... more Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Agricultural Economics, 1997. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 317-328).

Research paper thumbnail of A Practical Guide on Conducting Market Assessment: A Review of the Literature

In the following paper, the authors address the fundamental question,“How does one analyze the po... more In the following paper, the authors address the fundamental question,“How does one analyze the potential of a given product for a given market?” This type of market assessment is surprisingly difficult, in part because of the near uniqueness of every setting, ie, many of ...

Research paper thumbnail of Customer Preferences for Michigan Apples: A Case Example of a Market Research Program for a Commodity Industry

Journal of food distribution research, Mar 1, 2002

A series of market-research studies on Michigan apples are discussed in this paper. They provide ... more A series of market-research studies on Michigan apples are discussed in this paper. They provide a case example of a continuing program of market research to aid this industry. These included studies on changing preferences, needs, perceptions, practices and buying behavior for major customer segments of this industry, including consumers and grocery retailers, as well as mid-chain customer segments such as shippers and processors. While this market research program includes several component studies, the overall integration of the information from the various component studies is especially important for the development of the industry's marketing strategies. The component studies which comprise the overall market research program to date include the following interrelated phases:

Research paper thumbnail of El Primer Paso en el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Comunidad: Crear Consenso

Research paper thumbnail of Do US Consumers’ Perceive Local and Organic Food Differently? An Analysis Based on Means‐End Chain Analysis and Word Association

DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), Nov 1, 2013

The market of local and organic food is still a niche market in the USA, despite its strong growt... more The market of local and organic food is still a niche market in the USA, despite its strong growth rates. Both offer consumers an alternative to a globalized anonymous food supply chain. Yet local food and organic food seem to be overlapping and to some degree competing food concepts. While the organic food market somehow has managed to "mature", being widely distributed in national supermarket chains, local food in the US still seems to be tied to a "grassroots food movement", being mainly distributed over short food supply chains. With several trends indicating sustained growth for local and organic consumption, this paper first addresses different connotations of local food and compares them to standard definitions of organic food. The main focus is to explore the perception of US consumers towards local and organic food, using results from two different studies. Both studies use laddering techniques and word association tests, which were undertaken at Cornell University in New York State and at the University of Florida in the city of Gainesville. These findings are used to achieve a better understanding of the image of local and organic food, and the motives and values of local and organic food consumers.

Research paper thumbnail of Direct-to-Consumer Sales of Farm Products: Producers and Supply Chains in the Southeast

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Aug 1, 2013

Given the geography and agroclimatic conditions of the Southeast, coupled with continued populati... more Given the geography and agroclimatic conditions of the Southeast, coupled with continued population expansion from in-migration, local foods markets may be a promising niche market for some farms in the region. The Southeast has more small farms than any other U.S. region. Using farm-level data, we address the question of how successful southeastern farms engaged in direct sales to consumers differ from other farms. We also include a case study of a marketing association in the panhandle of Florida. In both analyses, we focus on the role of the supply chain for direct sales in explaining farm returns.

Research paper thumbnail of Consumer preferences, experience and credence issues and their strategic implications for French and US fresh produce sectors

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Jun 26, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of ¿Qué Es una Granja Apoyada por una Alianza de Consumidores?

EDIS, Dec 31, 1969

Este boletín explica el concepto de una granja apoyada por una alianza de consumadores, una forma... more Este boletín explica el concepto de una granja apoyada por una alianza de consumadores, una forma de producción en la cual el consumidor se alia directamente con el agricultor para asegurar la producción de sus propios alimentos (Community Supported Agriculture ó CSA en inglés). Aquí se describen los pasos exigidos para desarrollar una alianza de este tipo.

Research paper thumbnail of Big retail outlets and integrated farm management in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry

Research paper thumbnail of When Consumers Diet, Should Producers Care? An Examination of Low-Carb Dieting and U.S. Orange Juice Consumption

Journal of food distribution research, 2006

From 2000 through 2004, per-capita orange juice purchases decreased by 12.3 percent in the United... more From 2000 through 2004, per-capita orange juice purchases decreased by 12.3 percent in the United States, while the popularity and media coverage of low-carbohydrate dieting exploded. Content analysis was used to count selected newspaper articles topically related to low-carbohydrate dieting, the Atkins diet, and the South Beach diet. These data were included in a national orange juice demand model, where purchase data served as the independent variable and proxy for consumer demand of orange juice. Results indicate that media coverage of low-carbohydrate diets and dieting was negatively and significantly related to demand for orange juice in the United States.

Research paper thumbnail of Chain Management and Marketing Performance in Fruit Industry

Acta horticulturae, Sep 1, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of The Evolution of Institutions in the Malian Cotton Sector: An Application of John R. Commons's Ideas

Journal of Economic Issues, Dec 1, 2012

ABSTRACT Applying John R. Commons's institutional economic framework, this paper analyzes... more ABSTRACT Applying John R. Commons's institutional economic framework, this paper analyzes the evolution of key institutions in the Malian cotton sector, starting with Mali's independence in 1960 to the ongoing market-oriented reforms in the 2000s. In accordance with Commons's economic theory, institutional changes in the Malian cotton sector have led to both intended and unintended consequences, impacting economic performance at the farm, gin, and state levels. This has, in turn, contributed to the emergence of new limiting factors. At present, lack of adequate technical advising, indebtedness, issues related to input access, discordance between farmers and their union leader representatives, unreasonable seed cotton prices, delays in payment, and low cotton yields are the current limiting factors to desired economic performance. Based on these findings, we draw policy recommendations for revitalizing the Malian cotton sector.

Research paper thumbnail of Open innovation in the food and beverage industry

Research paper thumbnail of Consumer preferences, experience and credence issues and their strategic implications for French and US fresh produce sectors

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Jun 26, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of Changing Patterns of Orange Juice Consumption in the Southern United States

From 2000 through 2004, per capita orange juice purchases decreased by 12.3 percent while the pop... more From 2000 through 2004, per capita orange juice purchases decreased by 12.3 percent while the popularity and media coverage of low-carbohydrate dieting exploded. Content analysis was used to count selected Southern region newspaper articles topically related to low-carbohydrate dieting, the Atkins diet, and the South Beach diet. This data was included in a Southern region orange juice demand model, where purchase data served as the independent variable and proxy for consumer demand of orange juice. Results indicated that media coverage of low-carbohydrate diets and dieting was negatively and significantly related to demand for orange juice in the Southern region.

Research paper thumbnail of When Buying Fresh Apples and Tomatoes Will Consumers Pay Extra to Have Country of Origin Labeling?

Research paper thumbnail of COOL and Consumers' Willingness to Pay in the Fresh Produce Industry - Some Initial Impressions from the Field

The debate about Country-of-Origin labeling (COOL) has centered on the projected benefits and cos... more The debate about Country-of-Origin labeling (COOL) has centered on the projected benefits and costs of its implementation. This study uses data from a Vickery auction (n=320) to estimate willingness to pay for COOL. Preliminary findings suggest, on average, consumers value COOL, are not homogenous, and prefer fresh produce grown in the U.S.

Research paper thumbnail of Industry Networks and Sustainable Competitive Advantages in Brazilian and U.S. Processed Citrus Supply Chains

The states of Sao Paulo, Brazil and Florida, United States collectively dominate the world supply... more The states of Sao Paulo, Brazil and Florida, United States collectively dominate the world supply of orange juice. Collectively, these two regions account for over 80 percent of world processed orange production (Spreen, et al). Florida is the prime supplier to the United States and Canada, while Sao Paulo dominates world trade of orange juice and is the primary supplier to the EU market. It is these three markets - the United States, Canada and the EU - that represent the vast majority of global consumption of processed orange products (Spreen). The global dominance by these two national industries is being threatened. Both the Florida and Sao Paulo citrus industries are experiencing outbreaks of the same potentially devastating diseases - citrus canker (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri) and citrus greening (Liberibacter asiaticus). Citrus canker forms lesions on fruit, causing premature fruit drop and rendering the fruit unsuitable for fresh market sales. "In addition to lowe...

Research paper thumbnail of Estimating Consumers' Willingness-To-Pay for Country-Of-Origin Labels in Fresh Apples and Tomatoes: A Double-Hurdle Probit Analysis of American Data Using Factor Scores

Data are collected from primary shoppers in Gainesville Florida, Atlanta Georgia and Lansing Mich... more Data are collected from primary shoppers in Gainesville Florida, Atlanta Georgia and Lansing Michigan using a Vickrey (fifth-priced sealed bid) experimental auction and a survey questionnaire to provide a sample of 311 observations useable for analysis. The average willingness to pay (WTP) for country of origin labeling (COOL) "Grown in the U.S." in apples and tomatoes are calculated then tested for equivalence to assess if WTP is produce specific. A double-hurdle probit model is then estimated to ascertain the prominent determinants of WTP for COOL. Independent variables include demographics, food safety and factor scores derived from a factor analysis of food quality and food preference variables. Results show that on average consumers are willing to pay 0.49and0.49 and 0.49and0.48 for COOL in apples and tomatoes respectively with 79% of the consumers willing to pay more than $0.00 for apples labeled "Grown in the U.S." and 72% in the case of tomatoes. Premiums are found t...

Research paper thumbnail of Agribusiness and Sustainability of the Orange Juice and Sugar and Ethanol Industries of São Paulo and Florida

Key Perspectives on a New Global Power, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Decisions about exporting : the case of Michigan's smaller agribusiness and food industry firms /

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Agricultural Economics, 1997. Includes bibli... more Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Agricultural Economics, 1997. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 317-328).

Research paper thumbnail of A Practical Guide on Conducting Market Assessment: A Review of the Literature

In the following paper, the authors address the fundamental question,“How does one analyze the po... more In the following paper, the authors address the fundamental question,“How does one analyze the potential of a given product for a given market?” This type of market assessment is surprisingly difficult, in part because of the near uniqueness of every setting, ie, many of ...

Research paper thumbnail of Customer Preferences for Michigan Apples: A Case Example of a Market Research Program for a Commodity Industry

Journal of food distribution research, Mar 1, 2002

A series of market-research studies on Michigan apples are discussed in this paper. They provide ... more A series of market-research studies on Michigan apples are discussed in this paper. They provide a case example of a continuing program of market research to aid this industry. These included studies on changing preferences, needs, perceptions, practices and buying behavior for major customer segments of this industry, including consumers and grocery retailers, as well as mid-chain customer segments such as shippers and processors. While this market research program includes several component studies, the overall integration of the information from the various component studies is especially important for the development of the industry's marketing strategies. The component studies which comprise the overall market research program to date include the following interrelated phases:

Research paper thumbnail of El Primer Paso en el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Comunidad: Crear Consenso

Research paper thumbnail of Do US Consumers’ Perceive Local and Organic Food Differently? An Analysis Based on Means‐End Chain Analysis and Word Association

DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), Nov 1, 2013

The market of local and organic food is still a niche market in the USA, despite its strong growt... more The market of local and organic food is still a niche market in the USA, despite its strong growth rates. Both offer consumers an alternative to a globalized anonymous food supply chain. Yet local food and organic food seem to be overlapping and to some degree competing food concepts. While the organic food market somehow has managed to "mature", being widely distributed in national supermarket chains, local food in the US still seems to be tied to a "grassroots food movement", being mainly distributed over short food supply chains. With several trends indicating sustained growth for local and organic consumption, this paper first addresses different connotations of local food and compares them to standard definitions of organic food. The main focus is to explore the perception of US consumers towards local and organic food, using results from two different studies. Both studies use laddering techniques and word association tests, which were undertaken at Cornell University in New York State and at the University of Florida in the city of Gainesville. These findings are used to achieve a better understanding of the image of local and organic food, and the motives and values of local and organic food consumers.

Research paper thumbnail of Direct-to-Consumer Sales of Farm Products: Producers and Supply Chains in the Southeast

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Aug 1, 2013

Given the geography and agroclimatic conditions of the Southeast, coupled with continued populati... more Given the geography and agroclimatic conditions of the Southeast, coupled with continued population expansion from in-migration, local foods markets may be a promising niche market for some farms in the region. The Southeast has more small farms than any other U.S. region. Using farm-level data, we address the question of how successful southeastern farms engaged in direct sales to consumers differ from other farms. We also include a case study of a marketing association in the panhandle of Florida. In both analyses, we focus on the role of the supply chain for direct sales in explaining farm returns.

Research paper thumbnail of Consumer preferences, experience and credence issues and their strategic implications for French and US fresh produce sectors

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Jun 26, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of ¿Qué Es una Granja Apoyada por una Alianza de Consumidores?

EDIS, Dec 31, 1969

Este boletín explica el concepto de una granja apoyada por una alianza de consumadores, una forma... more Este boletín explica el concepto de una granja apoyada por una alianza de consumadores, una forma de producción en la cual el consumidor se alia directamente con el agricultor para asegurar la producción de sus propios alimentos (Community Supported Agriculture ó CSA en inglés). Aquí se describen los pasos exigidos para desarrollar una alianza de este tipo.

Research paper thumbnail of Big retail outlets and integrated farm management in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry

Research paper thumbnail of When Consumers Diet, Should Producers Care? An Examination of Low-Carb Dieting and U.S. Orange Juice Consumption

Journal of food distribution research, 2006

From 2000 through 2004, per-capita orange juice purchases decreased by 12.3 percent in the United... more From 2000 through 2004, per-capita orange juice purchases decreased by 12.3 percent in the United States, while the popularity and media coverage of low-carbohydrate dieting exploded. Content analysis was used to count selected newspaper articles topically related to low-carbohydrate dieting, the Atkins diet, and the South Beach diet. These data were included in a national orange juice demand model, where purchase data served as the independent variable and proxy for consumer demand of orange juice. Results indicate that media coverage of low-carbohydrate diets and dieting was negatively and significantly related to demand for orange juice in the United States.

Research paper thumbnail of Chain Management and Marketing Performance in Fruit Industry

Acta horticulturae, Sep 1, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of The Evolution of Institutions in the Malian Cotton Sector: An Application of John R. Commons's Ideas

Journal of Economic Issues, Dec 1, 2012

ABSTRACT Applying John R. Commons's institutional economic framework, this paper analyzes... more ABSTRACT Applying John R. Commons's institutional economic framework, this paper analyzes the evolution of key institutions in the Malian cotton sector, starting with Mali's independence in 1960 to the ongoing market-oriented reforms in the 2000s. In accordance with Commons's economic theory, institutional changes in the Malian cotton sector have led to both intended and unintended consequences, impacting economic performance at the farm, gin, and state levels. This has, in turn, contributed to the emergence of new limiting factors. At present, lack of adequate technical advising, indebtedness, issues related to input access, discordance between farmers and their union leader representatives, unreasonable seed cotton prices, delays in payment, and low cotton yields are the current limiting factors to desired economic performance. Based on these findings, we draw policy recommendations for revitalizing the Malian cotton sector.