Huifang Zhang Karina Gallardo Eugene Kupferman () (School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University)
Abstract
Ethylene treatment has proven an effective way to shorten the postharvest period required for winter Anjou pears to ripen and allows market availability year round. However, the eating quality of pears may vary under different treatments. A sensory experiment and a consumer survey including valuation, assessments of sensory characteristics, purchasing habits, and demographics were conducted. Analysis indicates that the treatment-induced eating quality significantly affects consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP). Mean WTP for each treatment indicates that consumers prefer the pears with a 6-day treatment and on average are willing to pay a premium of $0.25/pound compared to the market price.
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University in its series Working Papers with number
2009-14.