Since the 1970's, the Colorado Master Gardenersm (MG) program in Boulder County has had volunteer opportunities external to the extension office site. Collaboration occurs with various green industry locations via “clinics”. Volunteers are on location Friday through Sunday, April through mid-July to answer questions for the public at large. Due to the length of time this program had been in place, the staff time and resources committed to it, and budget cutbacks, need for a study of impact and effectiveness of this program was identified. A three-year study was conducted to determine efficacy, pertinence and should this system remain status quo. In year 1, a sampling of the general public was conducted to determine: behavioral change as a result of receiving information (such as a diagnosis); was the information delivered in a timely fashion; satisfaction level; pesticide usage trends; continuance of this program and other data points. In year 2, active MG's in Boulder County were surveyed about participation at various facilities, information about clientele activity, and success rate with clients. Additionally, their comfort level on ability to assist clients plus their perception of the value of clinics to the community were surveyed. Data on diagnostics was correlated with weekly statistics. In year 3, partnering Green Industry collaborators were surveyed to gauge satisfaction with clinic service, timeliness of clinic schedule, and value of clinic service to business, and overall benefits to their staff resources. Reports on each survey will be delivered.
characteristics and identify opportunities for improving management strategies. We surveyed commercial tart cherry orchards in Utah to describe regional patterns in orchard design characteristics of tree spacing and canopy structure and how these varied with
documented. The National Nursery Survey was conducted four times at 5-year intervals, in 1988, 1993, 1998, and 2003, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) multistate committee on economics and marketing of horticultural products. Mail surveys were
wholesale value of nursery plants in 2006 in 17 states surveyed was $4.65 bn with 7292 producers and 471,106 acres in production ( USDA, National Ag Statistics Service, 2007b ). Four product categories accounted for 58% of nursery production: broadleaf
Several new seedlees watermelon cultivars have recently been released or tested by seed companies. Their greatest asset is their seed-lessness. Melon quality, as determined by consumer acceptance may be a greater challenge.
A consumer preference survey was conducted to determine the acceptability of ten seedless cultivars and breeding lines. All cultivars were rated as acceptable and significant differences were found among the cultivars. Comments expressed by consumers indicated that the seedless melons were not as flavorful as seeded cultivars. No correlations were found between soluble solids and preference nor firmness and preference. Further investigation will be made as to whether the convenience and flavor are worth the greater cost of the seedless watermelon.
, water fit for human consumption, is used for irrigation, 45% is used for thermoelectric production, and only 9% is used for public potable water supplies ( U.S. Geological Survey, 2017 ). Compared with personal direct water uses (e.g., drinking and
As an international agricultural research center, the International Potato Center (CIP) 2 strives to provide global public goods in the form of improved agricultural technologies. 3 To help identify research priorities, CIP has conducted surveys
we assess whether producers’ perceptions of fruit quality traits are consonant with consumers’ preferences. Materials and Methods Pre-survey producer interviews. Before conducting the formal audience surveys, we interviewed five peach producers from
Morrison, School of Environmental Design, in preparation of the survey. The cost of publishing this paper was defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. Under postal regulations, this paper therefore must be hereby marked advertisement solely to
Abstract
Three surveys of direct market (pick-your-own) strawberry customers were conducted in Illinois to obtain demographic information, distance travelled, purchase habitude, and advertising response. A mail survey utilizing postcard reminders resulted in a higher number of returned forms than 2 anonymous handout surveys without follow-up. The rates of return were influenced by follow-up cards, the time interval of mailing the follow-up cards, and the growers’ personal request to their customers to complete survey forms. The survey methods are discussed relative to the large numbers of completed surveys required in our research and the applicability of various survey methods for direct marketing.