Agribusiness Commons^™

The Economics Of Health And Vitamin Consumption, Christiane Schroeter, Sven Anders, Andrea Carlson

Agribusiness

We estimate the impact of vitamin supplement intake, lifestyle, health indicators, food culture, and demographics on diet quality outcomes as measured by the Healthy Eating Index–2005 (HEI). Our data consists of U.S. adults who participated in the 2003–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Alternative instrumental variable estimators explicitly address issues of endogeneity and complex sample design. Our empirical analysis demonstrates that diet quality is strongly interrelated with food culture. We suggest that vitamin consumption serves as another marker for healthy eating. This finding emphasizes the need to employ economic modeling when developing public policy to reduce obesity.

Feasibility Analysis Of A Microbrewery, Dylan Warren Snyder

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

Consumer Purchase Decisions Regarding Screw Cap Wines, Lauren M. Jeter

Master's Theses

Screw cap wine closures provide many benefits in maintenance of wine quality over time, however acceptance of their use by purchasers has varied. This work first investigates how factors like age, gender, income and education affect the decision to purchase screw cap wines and to what extent these factors impact consumer decisions to bring screw cap wine to various social settings. The results of a questionnaire pooling attitudes and behaviors of wine purchasers (n=319) indicate that factors such as age, wine knowledge, income and gender influence a consumer’s decision to purchase screw cap wine. Education and income positively impact the …

When Do Fat Taxes Increase Consumer Welfare?, Jayson L. Lusk, Christiane Schroeter

Agribusiness

Previous analyses of fat taxes have generally worked within an empirical framework in which it is difficult to determine whether consumers benefit from the policy. This note outlines on simple means to determine whether consumers benefit from a fat tax by comparing the ratio of expenditures on the taxed good to the weight effect of the tax against the individual's willingness to pay for a one-pound weight reduction. Our empirical calculations suggest that an individual would have to be willing to pay about $1500 to reduce weight by one pound for a tax on sugary beverages to be welfare enhancing. …

The Impact Of Food Environment On Private Label Versus Branded Produce Choice, Christiane Schroeter, Xiaowei Cai

Agribusiness

Over the past two decades, retailers are providing more Private label foods (PL), which are directly competing with the National brand (NB) products. For years, PLs competed as generic and cheaper versions with their high-priced NB substitute. However, modern PLs have improved in product quality relative to NBs and are available in the premium, organic, and even produce sections with the goal to distinguish themselves from their competitors’ product lines. One of the fastest growing segments in the produce industry consists of triple-washed cello-packed spinach. Using a two-step Heckman model, we determine the impact of household purchase information, demographics, and …

Using Social Media To Enhance Learning Through Collaboration In Higher Education: A Case Study, Marianne Mcgarry Wolf, Mitch Wolf, Tom Frawley, Ann Torres, Shane Wolf

Agribusiness

Bradley and McDonald in a Harvard Business Review Blog discuss the difference between knowledge management and social media. They indicate that knowledge management is when company management tells employees what they need to know. In higher education faculty practice knowledge management by telling the students what they need to know. Social media is a method peers use to show connections the content they think is important. Bradley and McDonald believe that organizations can gain value from social media through mass collaboration. Mass collaboration occurs with “social media technology, a compelling purpose, and a focus on forming communities” (Bradley and McDonald, …

Who Is Eating The Fruits And Vegetables: Couch Potato Or Internet Junkie?, Christiane Schroeter, Marianne Mcgarry Wolf

Agribusiness

About 21% of U.S. college students are overweight. However, aside from the 1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey (NCHRBS), the prevalence of health-risk behavior among college students has not been well characterized. The objective of this study is to investigate how college student’s body fruit and vegetable intake is affected by (1) demographics, (2) dietary habits, and (3) lifestyle. We collected data of college students enrolled at California Polytechnic State University. Sedentary habits such as watching TV, playing computer games, and surfing the web negatively impact both fruit and vegetable intake, which emphasizes the need to improve on-campus health …

Economic Impact Of The Williamson Act In San Luis Obispo County, Hayley Nicole Loehr

Master's Theses

The goal of this research was to analyze the economic impact of the Williamson Act and the agricultural industry in San Luis Obispo County, and to assess the changes in agriculture and the County’s economic structure if a significant proportion of Williamson Act contracts were not renewed. Williamson Act enrollment and agriculture data were analyzed on a zip code level using IMPLAN v. 3.0, an input-output modeling program.

The first round of analysis assessed the baseline economic impact of the agriculture industry in San Luis Obispo County. Then, four regions of the county were established based on Williamson Act enrollment …

Business Plan For A Commercial Teff Farm In Ethiopia, Ephrem Teklu Phifer-Houseman

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project was undertaken to determine the feasibility of creating a profitable farm in Ethiopia using commercial farming methods in order to raise the standard of living for Ethiopian subsistence farmers and improve food security in Ethiopia. Initially, a farmer’s cooperative was the model proposed for this farm. However, further research into the realities of Ethiopian agribusiness and the difficulties smallholder farmers face in obtaining capital, along with in-depth financial analysis called for a modification of the business model. Consequently, this senior project discusses the design and delineation of a business plan for a privately-held, commercial, teff grain farm …

Who Are The Wine Techies?, Marianne Mcgarry Wolf, Mitch Wolf, Leanne Brady, Hanna Peszynski

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

Using Social Media For Collaborations About Industry News In Higher Education, Marianne Mcgarry Wolf, Mitch Wolf, Leanne Brady, Hanna Peszynski, Lindsey Higgins, Shane Wolf

Agribusiness

Social media use has surged in the past decade. Facebook has 900 million global users (Wall Street Journal, 2012). Recognizing that many of these 900 million users are potential customers (a search on Facebook in May 2012 revealed that there are 11.5 million US Facebook users that “like” wine, beer, or spirits), the wine industry has embraced social media (Vinography, 2012). Wineries are using social media as a tool to reach consumers and as a tool to reveal their brand quality and personality (The Tribune, 2011). In a survey of 118 of Texas’ 181 bonded wineries, nearly 80% of them …

A Comparison Of Wine Purchasing Behaviors In Ireland And California When The Celtic Tiger Roared, Marianne Mcgarry Wolf, David Dudley, Megan Ginny Rood, Sarah Geraghty, Ann M. Torres

Agribusiness

In 2006 the Irish wine market was growing rapidly along with its Celtic Tiger economy (Euromonitor, 2008). Total wine sales in Ireland more than quadrupled in the seventeen-year span from 1990 to 2007 (Geraghty and Torres, 2009). While wine consumption in Ireland was growing at a rapid rate, US consumption was growing, but at a slower rate. (Euromonitor, 2010). According to Moran, Ireland’s increased consumption of wine was due primarily to improved accessibility, affordability, and branding of wine. Geraghty and Torres conducted research in Galway Ireland in 2006 among 307 wine consumers and identified three clusters of wine consumers in …

Does Family On A Label Increase Purchase Interest For A Wine, Or Just Cause A Halo Effect?, Marianne Mcgarry Wolf, Lindsey Higgins, Mary Rice

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

Feasibility And Economic Viability Of Establishing A Wine Grape Vineyard In Moraga, Ca, Vincent Joseph Bruzzone

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

A Demand Analysis For The New Dow Agrosciences Insecticide, Sulfoxaflor, Among California Pest Control Advisors, Andre Lima Alves

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

Factors That Create A Positive Tasting Room Experience For The Current Millennial Generation, Lucia Annalicia Janney

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

Gender Preferences In Wine Marketing, Cristina Lombardo

Agribusiness

When purchasing a bottle of wine, the label is the consumer’s first impression. Previous research about how different target markets react to label design and information cues have proven to have significant differences. This study was undertaken to determine how men and women view these features and cues differently. An online survey was submitted to 100 potential respondents with 69 surveys returned for analysis. Various statistical data analysis was conducted and the results are presented in this report. There was a significant difference across the genders for a label that “is colorful” and for an “organic” information cue. It is …

"Ag Ed 539 - Graduate Internship Project", Diane B. Friend

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship report contains documented evidence required in meeting the quality criteria used to evaluate Community College Programs. These criteria were established by the Agriculture/Natural Resources Advisory Committee and are used to evaluate Community Colleges throughout California. In addition to documented evidence, the internship report also includes a special project on Student Support Programs at College of the Sequoias. The project documents the development and implementation of a viable, organized and structured Ag Business Club to support student leadership programs.

Design, Construction, And Evaluation Of An Automated Chicken Coop Door, Kyle Inks

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project takes a look into the design, construction, and evaluation of an automated chicken coop door. The idea and need for such a door came from my mother Jan Inks. The parameters for the project include, low production cost, easy installation on existing coops, sleek design, automatically open at a set time in the morning, and automatically close at a set time in the evening.

Estimated Sales And Investment Costs To Produce And Retail Gelato In The Petaluma Area, Katherine Camozzi

Agribusiness

Recent events in the California dairy have left many dairy producers with high feed costs, low profits, and low (sometimes negative) margins. Some producers have transitioned to producing value-added or artisanal dairy products to help increase the revenues earned from farm milk, particularly in Sonoma County. Because limited research exists on the business opportunities in response to a rapidly growing market for value-added products, this project explores the feasibility of starting a gelato production and retail business in the Petaluma area. To assess business feasibility, a consumer survey was created to estimate the percent of residents and non-residents who would …

Risk Management From A Strategic Perspective, Jay Noel, Steven Slezak

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

Job Expectations Of Agribusiness Students, Robert Richard Everett

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Live Music And Enjoyment Of Wine, Janey Helene Cowan

Agribusiness

This study was performed in order to determine the relationship between enjoyment of music in a live setting and enjoyment of wine consumed while at the concert. Surveys were collected from 113 respondents throughout the summer of 2011 at San Luis Obispo’s “Concerts in the Plaza.” J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines was the wine sponsor throughout the summer concert series, which represented a wide variety of musical genres. Overall, 80% of the sample was women, 69% drank white wine, and 93% had tried J. Lohr wines before the event. With regard to wine opinion, 57% of the sample maintained the …

Influences On Wine Purchases: A Comparison Between Millennials And Prior Generations, Kelsea Nissen

Agribusiness

This study was undertaken to determine the factors that influence wine purchases for wine consumers in San Luis Obispo County. The study was performed in order to compare the influential factors between Millennials and prior generations.

This collected data was analyzed through the use of statistical tests. Frequency tests were used to determine which influential factors and demographics made up the largest percentages. Chi-squared tests were performed in order to determine if a relationship between influential factors and generations was present. The statistical tests of independent t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed to determine the differences between generations …

A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of A Fertilizer Lab On A Produce Farm In Santa Barbara County, California, Tyler Adam

Agribusiness

The purpose of this study was to determine if a fertilizer lab would be a cost beneficial way of reducing nitrogen costs and consumption for a medium-sized produce farm (The Farm) in Santa Barbara County, California. A cost benefit analysis was performed to determine if the lab, installed in 2011, would provide a net positive benefit. The analysis compares the costs of the lab to the benefits of the lab. The costs of the lab are the annualized initial investment costs (based on costs incurred in 2011), the operating costs, and the opportunity costs of the lab. The benefit of …

Migrant Farmworkers' Access To Medical Care In The U.S., Jeffrey Mccauley

Agribusiness

This is a meta data analysis of migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the United States to see if they receive adequate medical care when it is required. Not a lot of information is known about this population, and this study is trying to bring to light the problems that migrant and seasonal farmworkers are facing with respect to medical care. Studies were collected from across the United States and analyzed to see if migrant and seasonal workers are having difficulties obtaining medical care. It was found that the majority of migrant and seasonal farmworkers do not receive adequate medical care …

A Case Study Examination Of Social Norms Marketing Campaign To Improve Responsible Drinking, Marianne Mcgarry Wolf, Allison Dana, Mitchell J. Wolf, Eivis Qenani Petrela

Agribusiness

This research discusses the use of social norms marketing to improve responsible drinking among college students. It was observed in each year of research that students studied overestimated their peers’ drinking practices. During the social norms marketing campaign decreases were observed in both students’ self-reported number of drinks consumed and perceived number of drinks consumed by peers at bars or parties, indicating that the social norms marketing efforts were somewhat successful. In addition, students reported drinking less alcohol over a shorter period of time. However, some negative behaviors related to drinking did not improve.

Redesigned Wine Labels And Consumer Preferences, Alison (Ali) Maddox

Agribusiness

When purchasing a bottle of wine, the first impression the consumer gets is from the wine label. In today’s competitive market, it is important that wineries understand consumer preferences and purchasing decisions when evaluating a wine bottle. This study was undertaken to determine the relationship between redesigned wine labels and consumer preferences. A survey was distributed to residents of San Luis Obispo and 194 people responded. It was found that consumers preferred the original label to the redesigned label. Respondents listed quality, good value, and varietal and the most important wine feature and unique, eye-catching, and colorful as the most …

Paired Price Comparisons Of Farmers’ Market And Supermarket Produce In San Luis Obispo County, Paulina Janda Swenson

Agribusiness

This study was undertaken to determine whether farmers’ markets or supermarkets in San Luis Obispo County are a better outlet for purchasing fresh produce based on paired price comparisons. Prices of fifteen produce items were chosen but later reduced to six because of seasonality, were observed and recorded at three farmers’ markets and three paired supermarkets over a period of five weeks.

Once all price data was collected, each farmers’ market was matched against their paired supermarket to find which market offered a lower average price. ANOVA tests were then performed to test the mean prices of the two market …

Google+: Are Wineries Willing To Adopt?, Michelle Witherwax

Agribusiness

This study was performed in order to assess wineries’ willingness to adopt the social media platform Google+ as a way to market to consumers. More specifically, the study examined current social media use along with different types of brand personality to determine if these factors had an influence on a winery’s willingness to adopt this platform.

A survey was given to 50 wineries located in San Luis Obispo County, and this survey data was taken and analyzed using statistical tests. Frequency tests were used in order to determine which responses were most frequently answered and to determine the percentage each …