Examining the relationship between production practices and food labels: The role of farm size

This paper uses survey data to demonstrate the importance of farm size in food-labeling decisions. Using logistic regression models, the study suggests that there exists a positive and significant relationship between agricultural producerswhowant food labels to explain production practices, even if there is no scientifically determined difference in the product and farm size. The results further indicate that producers within the 55- to 64-year old age category aremore likely to want food labels to explain production practices, while producers who own 1 to 25% of the land that they farm are less likely to express such a preference. The findings may be the first of its kind that provide preliminary evidence that at least in the area of production practices and food labels, the interests of producers and consumers may be converging.