ERS cosponsored a workshop, Global Markets for High-Value Food,
with the Food Industry Center (University of Minnesota) and the
Farm Foundation in February 2003. The workshop brought together
researchers, business people, and policymakers to discuss global
markets for high-value food products, such as fresh produce, meats,
and processed products. Topics covered include global food market
dynamics, consumers' changing preferences, innovations and changes
in the supply structure, and government's role in high-value food
markets. Anita Regmi
Issues in Food Assistance
ERS hosted a conference, Food Assistance Research: Recent Findings
and Emerging Issues, in February 2003, with the goal of identifying
emerging needs in food and nutrition assistance research. The first
day of the conference was devoted to child nutrition reauthorization
and related research issues, while the second day focused on food
stamps. Mark Prell
Understanding Market Segmentation
The U.S. grain and oilseed sector is moving away from production
and marketing of generic commodities and toward more product differentiation
and market segmentation. ERS and the Farm Foundation sponsored a
conference, Product Differentiation and Market Segmentation in
Grains and Oilseeds: Implications for an Industry in Transition,
in late January 2003. The symposium explored the determinants of
market segmentation and the implications for growers, handlers,
processors, and consumers. Aziz
Elbehri
