People

Justin Bina is an assistant professor in the Morrison School of Agribusiness at Arizona State University.

Bina completed his doctorate in agricultural economics at Kansas State University, where his research and outreach efforts covered issues in price risk management, wholesale meat processing, and consumer food spending. His dissertation evaluated health- and fitness-conscious individuals’ demand for retail animal protein.

His current research focuses on the behavioral determinants of consumers’ food demand, structural changes in domestic meat demand, the impacts of weight loss strategies on food consumption and spending patterns, and effective graduate student advising. Further, Bina is a key contributor to the Meat Demand Monitor (MDM) project funded by the U.S. Beef and Pork Checkoff programs and administered by Dr. Glynn Tonsor.

In his work, Bina seeks both innovation in empirical approach and relevance to industry decision makers. Transparency and effective communication drive his efforts.

Publications

1. Bina, J. D., Tonsor, G. T., & Coffey, B. K. (Forthcoming). No Beef with Increased Media: The Impacts of Fitness Media on U.S. Meat Demand. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
2. Bina, J. D., & Tonsor, G. T. (2024). Non-Linear Association of Exercise with Animal Protein Consumption among U.S. Adults. Nutrients, 16(10), 1438. Read more
3. Bina, J. D., & Tonsor, G. T. (2023). Demand Dashboards: Interactive Tools to Communicate Consumer Behavior. Applied Economics Teaching Resources, 5(4). Read more
4. Bina, J. D., Tonsor, G. T., & Briggeman, B. C. (2023). COVID-19 Federal Aid and Household Food Expenditures. Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 55(4), 567–608. Read more
5. Bina, J. D., Tonsor, G. T., Schulz, L. L., & Hahn, W. F. (2022). Regional and Plant-Size Impacts of COVID-19 on Beef Processing. Food Policy, 108, 102247. Read more
6. Bina, J. D., Schroeder, T. C., & Tonsor, G. T. (2022). Feeder Cattle Basis Risk and Determinants. Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 54(1), 137–156. Read more
7. Bina, J. D., Schroeder, T. C., & Tonsor, G. T. (2022). Conditional Feeder Cattle Hedge Ratios: Cross Hedging with Fluctuating Corn Prices. Journal of Commodity Markets, 26, 100193. Read more

Jeffrey Englin currently serves as a professor in the Morrison School of Agribusiness.

He previously served as director of the Morrison School and was professor and chair at the University of Nevada, Reno, a visiting scientist with the Canadian Forest Service, a visiting professor at the University of Alberta, and was a senior research economist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Publications

Aukema, JE., Leung B., Kovacs K., Chivers C., Britton KO., Englin, J., Frankel, SJ., Haight, RG., Holmes, TP., Liebhold, A., McCullough, DG., Von Holle, B. 2011. “Economic Impacts of Non-Native Forest Insects in the Continental United States.”​ PLoSONE 6(9): e24587. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0024587

Cameron, T. and J. Englin. 1997. "Welfare Effects of Changes in Environmental Quality Under Individual Uncertainty About Use." Rand Journal of Economics.​ 28(0):S45-S70.

Englin, J. and J.S. Shonkwiler. 1995. "Estimating Social Welfare Using Count Data Models: An Application to Long Run Recreation Demand Under Conditions of Endogenous Stratification and Truncation."​ Review of Economics and Statistics.​ 77:104-112.

Hilger, J. and J. Englin. 2009. “Utility Theoretic Semi-logarithmic Incomplete Demand Systems in a Natural Experiment: Forest Fire Impacts on Recreational Values and Use.” ​Resource and Energy Economics.​ 31:287-298.

Moeltner, K. and J. Englin. 2004. “Choice Behavior under Dynamic Quality Changes: State Dependence Versus 'Play-It-By-Ear' in Selecting Ski Resorts.” ​Journal of Business and Economic Statistics​. 22:214-224.

Carola Grebitus is an associate professor of food industry management at the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Her research is focused on modelling consumers’ food choices in general, and consumers’ decision strategies in particular.

She has worked extensively on determinants of consumer behavior, purchase decision making, and food quality from consumers’ perspective.

Her current research includes consumer preferences for local food, urban agriculture, and sustainable (food) products; willingness to pay for new technologies; and the influence of food labelling on purchase decisions.

Furthermore, she investigates the role of social networks on healthy food choices and adoption of genomics.

Also, she has conducted research using retail surveys regarding consumers’ use of quality certification and country-of-origin information. In her research Professor Grebitus applies a variety of methods ranging from auctions and choice experiments to eye tracking and taste tests.

Research

Arizona Department of Agriculture, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill:
Perception of Arizona-Grown Medjool Dates. PI with Co-PIs R.S. Hughner and E.J. Van Loo, Arizona State University; 2018-2020, $79,165.

SEED Grant ISSR:
Meeting consumers’ demand for U.S. beef: Analysis of U.S. beef from a European consumers’ perspective – the role of country-of-origin labelling. PI with Co-PI T. Schmitz, Arizona State University; 2018, $8,000.

U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture-EASM-3:

Collaborative Research: Physics-Based Predictive Modeling for Integrated Agricultural and Urban Applications. Co-PI with A. Mahalov (PI), B. Turner, M. Moustaoui, M. Georgescu, Arizona State University; 2015-2020, $751,860.

National Science Foundation MPS-DMS-EASM-3:
Collaborative Research: Physics-Based Predictive Modeling for Integrated Agricultural and Urban Applications, as Co-PI with A. Mahalov (PI), B. Turner, M. Moustaoui, M. Georgescu, Arizona State University; 2014-2019, $1,161,522.

U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture:
Scan-Based Trading: Opportunities for Enhancing Supply-Chain Efficiency. Co-PI with E. Rabinovich (PI), T.J. Richards (Co-PI), Arizona State University; 2016-2019, $496,407.

Genome Canada, University of Alberta:
Application of Genomics to Improve Disease Resilience and Sustainability in Pork Production. PI, 2016-2019, $49,240.

Genome Canada, University of Alberta:
Increasing Feed Efficiency and Reducing Methane Emissions through Genomics: A New Promising Goal for the Canadian Dairy Industry. PI, 2016-2019, $30,000.

Arizona Department of Agriculture, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill:
Target-Marketing for Medjool Date Consumer Segments. PI with Co-PI R.S. Hughner, Arizona State University; 2016-2018, $40,664.

Arizona Department of Agriculture, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill:
Driving Demand for Arizona-Grown Medjool Dates. PI with Co-PI R.S. Hughner, Arizona State University; 2015-2017, $78,052. Economic Research Service, USDA – Food Economics Division: Cooperative Research Agreement: Applying Behavioral and Experimental Economics to Food and Agri-Environmental Issues. Support of Agricultural & Applied Economics Association 2015 Post Conference Workshop; 2015, $5,000.

Publications

Colson, G., and C. Grebitus (2017): Relationship between children’s BMI and parents’ preferences for kids’ yogurts with and without front of package health signals. ​Agribusiness: An International Journal,​ 33(2), 151-159.

Colson, G., Corrigan, J., Grebitus, C. Loureiro, M., and M. Rousu (2016): Which deceptive practices, if any, should be allowed in experimental economics research? Results from surveys of applied experimental economists and students. ​American Journal of Agricultural Economics,​ 98(2), 610-621.

DeLong, K.L., and C. Grebitus (2018): Genetically modified labeling: The role of consumers’ trust and personality. ​Agribusiness: An International Journal,​ 34(2), 266-282.

Dumortier, J., Evans, K.S., Grebitus, C., and P.A. Martin (2017): The influence of trust and attitudes on the purchase frequency of organic produce. ​The Journal of International Food & Agribusiness Marketing​, 29(1), 46-69.

Grebitus C., Peschel A.O., and R.S. Hughner (2018): Voluntary food labeling: The additive effect of “free from” labels and region of origin. In Press. ​Agribusiness: An International Journal.​ 2018;1–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21558.

Grebitus, C., and G. Davis (2017): Change is Good!? Analyzing the Relationship between Attention and Nutrition Facts Panel Modifications. ​Food Policy,​ 73, 119-130.

Grebitus, C., and J. Dumortier (2016): Effects of values and personality on demand for organic produce. ​Agribusiness: An International Journal,​ 32(2), 189-202.

Grebitus, C., Hartmann, M., and N. Reynolds (2015): Global Obesity Study on Drivers for Weight Reduction Strategies. Obesity Facts. ​The European Journal of Obesity​, 8, 77-86.

Grebitus, C., Jensen, H.H., and J. Roosen (2013): US and German consumer preferences for ground beef packaged under a modified atmosphere – Different regulations, different behavior? ​Food Policy,​ 40, 109–118.

Grebitus, C., Jensen, H.H., Roosen, J., and J. Sebranek (2015): Does the Packaging Make the Product? Identifying Consumers’ Preference for “Natural” in Packaging. ​AgBioForum​ – Festschrift for Wallace Huffman, 18(3), 337-344.

Grebitus, C., Jensen, H.H., Roosen, J., and J.G. Sebranek (2013): Fresh meat packaging: Consumer acceptance of modified atmosphere packaging including carbon monoxide. ​Journal of Food Protection,​ 76(1), 99-107.

Grebitus, C., Lusk, J., and R. Nayga (2013): Effect of distance of transportation on willingness to pay for food.​ Ecological Economics,​ 88, 67–75.

Grebitus, C., Lusk, J., and R. Nayga (2013): Explaining differences in real and hypothetical experimental auctions and choice experiments with personality. ​Journal of Economic Psychology,​ 36, 11–26.

Grebitus, C., Printezis, I., and A. Printezis (2017): Relationship between consumer behavior and success of urban agriculture. Ecological Economics, 136, 189-200.

Grebitus, C., Roosen, J., and C. Seitz (2015): Visual attention and Choice: A behavioral economics perspective on food decisions. Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, Special Issue - The Behavioral and Neuroeconomics of Food and Brand Decisions, 13(1), 73-82.

Grebitus, C., Steiner, B., and M. Veeman (2013): Personal values and decision making: Evidence from environmental footprint labeling in Canada. ​American Journal of Agricultural Economics - Proceedings​, 95(2), 397-403.

Grebitus, C., Steiner, B., and M. Veeman (2015): The roles of human values and generalized trust on stated preferences when food is labeled with environmental footprints: ​Insights from Germany. Food Policy, Special Issue - Consumers and Trust: Empirical investigations on the outcomes of consumer trust in food,​ 52, 84–91.

Grebitus, C., Steiner, B., and M. Veeman (2016): Paying for sustainability: A cross-cultural analysis of consumers’ valuations of food and non-food products labeled for carbon and water footprints. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 63, 50-58. Langen, N., Grebitus, C., and M. Hartmann (2013): Success factors of Cause-related Marketing in Germany. ​Agribusiness: An International Journal,​ 29(2), 207-227.

Lewis, K.E., and C. Grebitus (2016): Why U.S. consumers support country of origin labeling: Examining the impact of ethnocentrism and food safety. ​The Journal of International Food and Agribusiness Marketing​, 28(3), 254-270.

Lewis, K.E., Grebitus, C., and R. Nayga (2016): The impact of brand and attention on consumers’ willingness to pay: Evidence from an eye tracking experiment. ​Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics​, 64(4), 753-777.

Lewis, K.E., Grebitus, C., and R. Nayga (2016): The importance of taste in experimental auctions: consumers’ valuation of calorie and sweetener labeling of soft drinks.​ Agricultural Economics​, 47(1), 47-57.

Lewis, K.E., Grebitus, C., and R. Nayga (2016): U.S. consumers’ preferences for imported and genetically modified sugar: Examining policy consequentiality in a choice experiment.​ Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics;​ 65, 1-8.

Lewis, K.E., Grebitus, C., Colson, G., and W. Hu (2017): German and British consumer willingness to pay for beef labeled with food safety attributes. ​Journal of Agricultural Economics​, 68(2), 451-470.

Manfredo, M., D Sanders, K Boris. Accuracy and Efficiency in the U.S. Department of Energy's Short-term Supply Forecasts - Forthcoming. ​Energy Economics​ (2008).

Mueller Loose, S., Peschel, A.O. and C. Grebitus (2013): Quantifying effects of convenience and product packaging on consumer preferences and market share of seafood products: The case of oysters. ​Food Quality and Preference​, 28(2), 492-504.

Peschel, A.O., Grebitus, C., Colson, G., and W. Hu (2016): Explaining the use of attribute cut-off values on decision making by means of involvement. ​Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics,​ 65, 58-66.

Peschel, A.O., Grebitus, C., Steiner, B., and M. Veeman (2016): How does consumer knowledge affect environmentally sustainable choices? Evidence from a cross-country latent class analysis of food labels. ​Appetite​, 106, 78-91.

Pofahl, G. and Richards, T.J.. "Valuation of New Products in Attribute Space.". American Journal of Agricultural Economics (2009). Printezis, I., and C. Grebitus (2018): Marketing channels for local food. ​Ecological Economics.​ 152(October), 161-171.

Qui, Y., Colson, G., and C. Grebitus (2014): Risk preferences and purchase of energy-efficient technologies in the residential sector. Ecological Economics​, 107, 216–229.

Roscoe, R.D., Grebitus, C., O’Brian, J., Johnson, A.C., and I. Kula (2016): Online information search and decision making: Effects of web search stance. ​Computers in Human Behavior​, 56, 103-118.

Rousu, M., Colson, G., Corrigan, J., Grebitus, C., and M. Loureiro (2015): Deception in experiments: Towards guidelines on use in applied economics research. ​Agricultural Economic Perspectives and Policy​, 37(3), 524-536.

Steiner, B., Peschel, A.O., and C. Grebitus (2017): Multi-product category choices labeled for ecological footprints: Exploring psychographics and evolved psychological biases for characterizing latent consumer classes. ​Ecological Economics,​ 140, 251-264.

Syrengelas, K.G., DeLong, K.L., Grebitus, C. and R.M. Nayga (2018): Is the natural label misleading? Examining consumer preferences for natural beef. In Press. ​Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy,​ https://doi.org/10.1093/aepp/ppx042.

Conference and workshop participation

Co-chair: ‘Recent Developments in Experimental Economics,’ Post-conference workshop at Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, Chicago, IL; 2017

Co-chair: ‘The "How-To" of Experimental Economics in Agricultural, Environmental and Applied Research,’ Pre-conference workshop at Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, Boston, MA; 2016

Co-chair: ‘Applying Behavioral and Experimental Economics to Food and Agri-Environmental Issues,’ Post-conference workshop at Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, San Francisco, CA; 2015

Co-chair: ‘Recent Trends in Experimental Economics,’ Pre-conference workshop at European Association of Agricultural Economists Congress, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 2014

Co-chair, science committee: ‘Social Networks, Social Media and the Economics of Food,’ 3rd Agricultural & Applied Economics

Association / European Association of Agriculture Economists / Canadian Agricultural Economics Society Conference, Montreal, CA. 2014

Program committee chair: ‘Food Environment: The Effects of Context on Food,’ 2nd Agricultural & Applied Economics Association / Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Conference, Boston, MA. 2012

Member of the program committee and local organizing committee: ‘Consumer Behavior for a Sustainable Future,’ 5th International Consumer Sciences Research Conference, Bonn, Germany. 2011

Member of the local organizing committee: ‘The Economics of Food, Food Choice and Health,’ 1st European Association of Agriculture Economists / Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Symposium and 115th European Association of Agriculture Economists Seminar, Munich, Germany. 2010

Session organizer: ‘Controversies and Frontiers in Experimental Economics,’ Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, San Francisco, CA, 2015

Session co-organizer: ‘Attitudes, Perceptions and Values: Determinants of Decision Making,’ Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, Seattle, WA; 2012

Organization of Track Sessions at Conferences
Session organizer: ‘Experiments in Applied and Agricultural Economics – Featuring Tomorrow’s Researchers,’ Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, Chicago, IL, 2017

Session co-organizer: ‘Using New Technologies to Advance Behavioral and Experimental Economics,’ Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, Chicago, IL; 2017

Session co-organizer: ‘Marketing Policy Implications of Food: Consumer Behavior and Labeling Policy from Different Perspectives,’ Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, Chicago, IL; 2017

Session organizer: ‘Transformations in Food Systems: Opportunities and Challenges for Alternative Food Systems,’ Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, Boston, MA, 2016

Session co-organizer: ‘How do you choose your food? Insights from behavioral economics’, Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, Boston, MA; 2016

Session co-organizer: ‘Where are they Now? Research Updates from Graduates of the Behavioral Economics Workshop,’ Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, Boston, MA; 2016

Session co-organizer: ‘Investigating Decision Making: The Inclusion of Eye Tracking in Economic Experiments,’ Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, San Francisco, CA, 2015

Session co-organizer: Global Trends in Marketing and Demand of Meat and Dairy Products,’ Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, Minneapolis, MN; 2014

Session co-organizer: ‘Is it Healthier, Tastier, and Who Buys it?...– Current Issues Surrounding Organic Food Production and Consumption,’ Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, Washington, DC; 2013

Session co-organizer: ‘Value Added Meat Marketing around the Globe: International Insights on Safety, Health, and Convenience,’ Annual Meetings of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, Seattle, WA; 2012

Renée Shaw Hughner is an Associate Professor of Agribusiness in the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Broadly, her research lies in the areas of food marketing as it relates to consumer behavior, health, nutrition, and education.

Her research has focused on understanding: consumer attitudes and the use of choice heuristics in the context of children’s food products; consumer attribution of locally grown and state-branded produce, and; the role of dietary interventions in the prevention of childhood obesity.

Current projects include research which examines the issue of alleviating the problem of access to healthy food in food deserts and consumers’ perceptions of various food labels (e.g., GMO, sugar sweetened beverage warnings). Hughner is involved in several project-based activities with students.

She serves as the student advisor for the Produce Marketing Association's (PMA) Career Pathways Program; the National Agri-marketing Association (NAMA) Student Marketing Competition, the Produce for Better Health (PBH) Formula 5 Marketing Competition, and the National Grocers Association (NGA) Collegiate Case Competition.

Hughner served as Chairwoman for the National Grocers Association (NGA) Food Industry University Committee (FIUC), a committee dedicated to building bridges between the independent food retailing sector and academia. She currently serves on the board of the Arizona Food & Drug Industry Education Foundation and is on the editorial board of the ​Journal of Macromarketing. Hughner​ enjoys teaching and interacting with students and, in 2014, was awarded the Huizingh Outstanding Undergraduate Service to Students Award.

Current research

• Perception of Arizona Grown Medjool Dates, with Carola Grebitus. Working with data to identify consumer segments in the Medjool date market. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
• Efficacy of Sugar Sweetened Beverage Labels, with Claudia Dumitrescu. Working on a project which looks at the impact of safety labeling on sugar sweetened beverages.
• Arizona’s Native American Food Systems, with Ashok Mishra and Lauren Chenarides. Working on a project to identify gaps in Arizona's Indigenous Food Systems (Native American reservations).

Student Activities

Faculty Advisor, PMA Career Pathways Program: Every year, Hughner accompanies students to the Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) annual “Fresh Summit” convention and Career Pathways Pack program. The goal of this program is to introduce students to the fresh produce industry. Among other activities, PMA pairs each student with an industry mentor. Students attend special programs and have numerous opportunities to network with industry professionals and executives.

Faculty Advisor, National Grocers Association (NGA) University Case Competition and Annual Show: The National Grocers Association (NGA) sponsors an annual collegiate case competition in conjunction with the annual NGA Show. Students develop an action plan to address a current food retailing issue. Students then present their case solution at the NGA Show. (National Grocers Association) Collegiate Case Competition. In 2015, Sun Devils took first place, in 2016, they placed second.

Faculty Advisor, PBH Formula 5 Competition: Every year the Produce for Better Health sponsors a marketing competition in which college students are challenged to develop a marketing plan for an agricultural product, specifically produce. Students get an up-close view of how the elements of marketing strategy work to deliver value to consumers. In 2016 and 2017, students won first place in the Produce for Better Health’s Formula 5 Marketing Competition, and in 2018, they placed fourth. In addition to receiving a trophy and award money, each student team was invited to attend PBH’s annual conference where they were treated to great food, entertaining speakers, and the opportunity to network with industry executives from leading produce companies.

Faculty Advisor, the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Competition: The NAMA competition is a college-level marketing competition where student teams develop a marketing plan for a new agricultural product of their choice. Students spend a semester conducting market research, writing the marketing plan and developing a presentation. In developing their marketing plan, students follow the same practices and principles used by today’s marketing professionals. Teams submit a written plan summary prior to the competition and then make a formal presentation of their marketing plan to a panel of judges at the competition. Overall, approximately 30 student NAMA chapters from all over the country and Canada attend the conference and participate in the competition. The competition is part of the National Agri-Marketing Association’s annual conference and trade show. The marketing competition is a great learning tool for these students and provides them with some really good practical experience.

Publications

Dumitrescu C., R. Shaw Hughner and C. J. Shultz II (2016). Policy and Marketing Changes to Help Curb Childhood Obesity: Government Ban Vs. Industry Self-Regulation. ​International Journal of Consumer Studies,​ 40 (5), 519-526.

Dumitrescu, C., R. Shaw Hughner and C. J. Shultz II (2016). "Why Do Some Consumers Make Unhealthy Food Choices?" ​Journal of Food Product Marketing​, May 1-22.

Dumitrescu, C., R. Shaw Hughner and C. J. Shultz II (2018) “Examining Consumers’ Responses to Corporate Social Responsibility Addressing Childhood Obesity: The Mediating Role of Attributional Judgments,” ​Journal of Business Research​, Vol. 88, 132-140

Grebitus C., Peschel A.O., and R.S. Hughner (2018): Voluntary food labeling: The additive effect of “free from” labels and region of origin. In Press.​ Agribusiness: An International Journal.​ 2018;1–14. ​https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21558​.

Lacagnina, G., R. Shaw Hughner, C. Barroso, R. Hall and C. Wharton (2017) “Supply Chain Barriers to Healthy, Affordable Produce in Phoenix-Area Food Deserts,” ​Journal of Food Distribution Research​, November. Vol 48 (3) 1-15.

Nganje, W., R. Shaw Hughner and P. Patterson (2014) “Perception of Risks and Preferences for Locally Grown Produce: A Marketing System Approach,” ​Journal of Food Products Marketing​, Vol 20 (2) 196-214.

Wharton, C. M., R. Shaw Hughner, L. MacMillan and C. Dumitrescu (2015) "Community Supported Agriculture Programs: A Novel Venue for Theory-Based Health Behavior Change Interventions," ​Ecology of Food and Nutrition​, May-Jun 54(3) 280-301.