Evaluating the effects of rice quality attributes on consumer preferences and rice demand /

In recent years, the demand for imported Thai aromatic rice

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Holcomb, Rodney Brian
Format: Thesis Book
Language:English
Published: [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified] ; 1997.
Subjects:
Online Access:http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=739841981&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Description
Summary:In recent years, the demand for imported Thai aromatic rice
has increased in the United States. mostly due to the growing
Asian-American population and the preferences of health-
conscious consumers for something other than "plain" rice.
In an effort to examine the marketing challenges offered by
the growing demand for aromatic rice to the U.S.
(specifically Texas) rice industry, studies were undertaken
to examine the factors that possibly influence Asian-American
rice demand. Survey data from Asian-American households in
Houston, Texas were used to determine the impacts of socio-
demographic characteristics such as income, ethnicity, time
spent in the United States, and age of the head of the
household on the quantity of rice consumed during a one-week
period. From demand model regressions using both unadjusted
prices and qualityadjusted prices, price and income
elasticities calculated and compared with previous studies.
Related to this survey, a product placement study was
performed in these same households to measure the impacts of
preferred rice characteristics on rice price per pound.
Participants were given one variety of rice to consume each
week for five weeks. For each variety, participants rated
seven attributes on a 1-9 Likert scale and offered
willingness-to-pay figures for each. Using hedonic modeling,
marginal implicit prices were calculated for each attribute
in each rice variety. These attribute values were then
compared across varieties. While geneticists continue to
develop varieties that they hope can compete with imported
Thai rice in the marketplace, no current varieties have been
successful. Because varietal development may take several
years and millions of dollars, a study was undertaken to
determine-nine the effects of rough rice storage conditions
on the levels of grain attributes. Samples of Jasmine 85, a
domestic aromatic rice variety, were subjected to various
rough rice storage conditions, milled, and then analyzed by
two sensory panels for milled rice color, cooked rice texture
attributes, and cooked rice aromas and flavors. Results
indicate that longer storage periods and high storage
temperatures caused rice to lose whiteness, become less chewy
and cohesive, and lose aroma and flavor.
Item Description:Vita.
"Major Subject: Agricultural Economics".
Physical Description:xiii, 165 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm.
Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references: pages 151-161.