Future of Food: Journal on Food

Vertical price linkages in food markets: Evidence from the tomato value chain of Northern South Africa

Kudzai Mandizvidza
Agricultural Development Economist and Freelance International Consultant, Beijing, China

Price transmission in agricultural fresh produce markets is a subject of considerable interest to policymakers given that improved market performance for agricultural commodities promotes market development and maximization of social welfare. In northern South Africa, where tomato production dominates the country, studies exist on the general production, marketing, and consumption of fresh produce. However, the literature lacks an analytical component that is pertinent to the mechanism of price transmission and vertical linkages among successive marketing stages of tomato. This study employs the Houck approach and Error Correction modeling technique in an attempt to examine price transmission in South Africa’s tomato markets. The results indicate a symmetric adjustment to price signals between farm and wholesale levels and an asymmetric adjustment between farm and retail levels. Even so, there is scope for ameliorating the effectiveness and efficiency of fresh produce markets in South Africa.

Keywords : Marketing margins ,Price transmission ,Tomato value chain ,Vertical price linkages .

Myanmar High School Students’ Perceptions of College and International Readiness in Western Society

Mark Speckien
Louisiana Tech University
Mark Speckien
Louisiana Tech University
International students are more likely to experience mental health issues and increased stress. Mental health is often surrounded by negative societal stigmas that act as barriers to seeking support and tend to lead to greater mental health concerns. International students tend to seek socioemotional support from other international student peers rather than seeking out counseling services. However, this study shows that LGBTQIA+ international students were less likely to seek socioemotional support from other international student peers due to fear of their sexual orientation being discovered and their families finding out about their identity. This study examines how LGBTQIA+ international students talk about their experiences on and off campus in relations to their socioemotional well-being. Specifically, this study sought to better understand the complexities of LGBTQIA+ students’ identities, and the challenges they faced in terms of their socioemotional well-being. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Keywords : international students, socioemotional well-being, mental health, identity development, intersectionality, LGBTQIA