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Demand elasticities for fresh fruit at the retail level

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  • Catherine Durham
  • James Eales

Abstract

The obesity epidemic in the US and elsewhere has re-doubled efforts to understand determinants of the quality of consumers' diets. Part of the discussion has centered on the potential of 'fat taxes' and/or the subsidization of the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables to coax consumers to better diets. Whether this discussion has merit or not, fundamental to the debate are the demand elasticities of the commodities involved. This study employs weekly data from several retail stores on fruit prices and sales to estimate elasticities of individual fruits. Estimates show consumers are more responsive to price than has been found previously.

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine Durham & James Eales, 2010. "Demand elasticities for fresh fruit at the retail level," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(11), pages 1345-1354.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:42:y:2010:i:11:p:1345-1354
    DOI: 10.1080/00036840701721356
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    2. Revoredo-Giha, Cesar & Florkowski, Wojciech J., 2013. "An Analysis of the Demand for Fresh Fruit in Scotland," Working Papers 152212, Scotland's Rural College (formerly Scottish Agricultural College), Land Economy & Environment Research Group.
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    9. Dunn, Richard A. & Dean, Wesley R. & Johnson, Cassandra M. & Leidner, Andrew & Sharkey, Joseph R., 2012. "The Effect of Distance and Cost on Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Rural Texas," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 44(4), pages 491-500, November.
    10. Dave Weatherspoon & James Oehmke & Assa Dembele & Lorraine Weatherspoon, 2015. "Fresh vegetable demand behaviour in an urban food desert," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 52(5), pages 960-979, April.
    11. Ferrier, Peyton M. & Zhen, Chen & Bovay, John, 2023. "Price and Welfare Effects of the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 48(1), January.
    12. Dave Weatherspoon & James Oehmke & Assa Dembélé & Marcus Coleman & Thasanee Satimanon & Lorraine Weatherspoon, 2013. "Price and Expenditure Elasticities for Fresh Fruits in an Urban Food Desert," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 50(1), pages 88-106, January.
    13. Jose‐Maria Garcia‐Alvarez‐Coque & Victor Martinez‐Gomez & Miquel Villanueva, 2010. "Seasonal protection of F&V imports in the EU: impacts of the entry price system," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 41(2), pages 205-218, March.
    14. Haque, Samiul & Hammami, AbdelMalek & Xia, Tian & Guan, Zhengfei, 2023. "Market Power in the Florida Orange Juice Processing Industry," 2023 Annual Meeting, July 23-25, Washington D.C. 335761, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    15. Mengesha Yayo Negasi, 2016. "Marketing System Analysis of Vegetables and Fruits in Amhara Regional State: survey Evidence from Raya Kobo and Harbu Woredas," Ethiopian Journal of Economics, Ethiopian Economics Association, vol. 24(2), August.
    16. Muhammad Irfan & Michael P. Cameron & Gazi Hassan, 2017. "Household Energy Elasticities in Pakistan: An Application of the LA-AIDS Model on Pooled Household Data," Working Papers in Economics 17/11, University of Waikato.
    17. Alston, Julian M. & Mullally, Conner C. & Sumner, Daniel A. & Townsend, Marilyn & Vosti, Stephen A., 2009. "Likely effects on obesity from proposed changes to the US food stamp program," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 176-184, April.
    18. Ogundari, Kolawole & Arifalo, Sadiat Funmilayo, 2013. "Determinants of Household Demand for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable in Nigeria: A Double Hurdle Approach," Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, Humboldt-Universitaat zu Berlin, vol. 52(3), pages 1-18, August.

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