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The Relative Importance of Search versus Credence Product Attributes: Organic and Locally Grown

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2016

Ferdinand F. Wirth ,
John L. Stanton  and
James B. Wiley
Ferdinand F. Wirth
Affiliation:
Department of Food Marketing at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
John L. Stanton
Affiliation:
Department of Food Marketing at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
James B. Wiley
Affiliation:
Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Abstract

Organic foods and local foods have come to the forefront of consumer issues, due to concerns about nutrition, health, sustainability, and food safety. A conjoint analysis experiment quantified the relative importance of, and trade-offs between, apple search and experience attributes (quality/blemishes, size, flavor), credence attributes (conventional vs. organic production method, local origin vs. product of USA vs. imported), and purchase price when buying apples. Quality is the most important apple attribute. Production method—organic versus conventional—had no significant impact on preferences.

Keywords

conjoint analysisorganiclocally growncredence attributes
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Agricultural and Resource Economics Review , Volume 40 , Issue 1 , April 2011 , pp. 48 - 62
Copyright
Copyright © 2011 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

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