ABSTRACT

The ultimate goal of the commercial apple industry must be to satisfy the varying needs of consumers. Unfortunately, too often that does not occur. In many cases, the apple industry has not used the existing expertise in government, universities or the private sector in identifying apple consumption patterns. The principles governing apple consumption are the same as those governing consumption of all other foods. Food is consumed first to meet the body’s minimal physiological needs, that is, for human survival. Approximately the same formulation is useable whether one is concerned about the demand for all apples in a continent or the demand for a specific variety at a specific auction market in a particular city. Many firms help link producers and consumers by adding time, form and space utilities. Information on per capita consumption of apples worldwide is relatively sparse.