Value-added (VA) technologies can help farmers in
the specialty crop industry generate new products, increase off-season income
sources, expand market access, and improve overall profitability. These technologies
can support the development of rural economies through the generation of new
businesses and job creation. The USDA defines VA products as those 1) changed
physical, 2) produced in a manner that enhances their value, and 3) physically
segregated in a manner that results in enhancement of their value. Drawing from
this definition, this study investigated VA technologies such as drying,
cutting into customer-ready portions, washing and labeling specialty crops. The
objectives of this study are threefold. First, we analyze how market access and
diversification drive specialty crop farmers to adopt VA technologies. Second, we
address the potential endogeneity between the adoption of VA technologies
(vertical diversification) and the number of crops (horizontal
diversification). Lastly, we investigate
how market access drives farmers to utilize food labels for VA products. Data
for this study came from a 2019 web-based survey of specialty crop farmers. A
total of 766 farmers completed the survey, with a response rate of 21.5%. The
questionnaire included questions related to farmer’s demographics (i.e.,
educational attainment, gender, farming experience), farm characteristics
(i.e., crops, markets, and growing technologies), and farmers’ beliefs
regarding their farm system. Results suggest that market access is a
significant driver of VA technology adoption. Also, the size of the farm, networks,
farmer’s perceptions, and employment growth influence adopting VA technologies.
The results also show us that farmers adopting VA technologies tend to
experience economic growth.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/14497734 |
| Date | 06 May 2021 |
| Creators | Orlando Francisco Rodriguez Izaba (10711716) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/VALUE-ADDED_STRATEGIES_IN_THE_SPECIALTY_CROP_INDUSTRY_EXPLORING_FARMERS_DRIVERS_AND_STRATEGIES_AT_THE_FARM_LEVEL/14497734 |
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