| This paper estimates a demand system for a selected tropical fresh fruit and vegetable imports in to the U.S. using a Linear Approximate Almost Ideal Demand Systems model for the period 1989-2008. Further the paper attempts to capture trade policy and seasonality effects that affect the demand for fresh fruit and vegetable imports. Results show that most of the price elasticities of demand have the expected signs and less than unity magnitude except for tomatoes. Complimentary commodities include bananas and papayas, grapes, and mangoes, peppers and tomatoes and avocados, and tomatoes and cucumber. Substitutes include pineapples and papayas, grapes and papayas, and mangoes and tomatoes. Trade policy and seasonality are also found to affect fresh fruit and... |
