Date of Graduation

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

Committee Chair

Gerard E. D'Souza

Abstract

This analysis uses economic modeling techniques to analyze direct farm marketing sales, profits, and public policy in West Virginia. To investigate factors that affect county direct farm marketing, the impact of consumer demographic, land, and spatial variables upon county direct farm marketing sales is tested. The results reveal that income, education, land characteristics, and adjacent metropolitan areas influence direct farm marketing sales. An Input-Output (I-O) model is used to analyze a direct farm marketing public policy in the Mountain State. The results from the model portray a disproportionate amount of West Virginia food production contributing to marketing services and a strong economic relationship between the food processing and farm production industries. In conclusion, a direct farm marketing public policy has multiple benefits and costs. The most expedient direct farm marketing policy would strategically place farmers’ markets in a county to maximize farm establishments’ revenues and consumer satisfaction.

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