Since 1990, Dr. Benedict C. Posadas has consistently developed and maintained the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center’s economic research and extension programs, emphasizing the following major areas.
HORTICULTURE ECONOMICS
- Horticulture Economics research and extension provide households, businesses, organizations, communities, and government agencies with basic and advanced tools and information involving relevant horticulture economic issues in coastal areas, the entire state, the Gulf of Mexico region, and beyond.
- Dr. Posadas's horticulture publications and presentations are listed at http://coastal.msstate.edu/ben-publications and http://coastal.msstate.edu/horticulture-presentations.
- Watch and learn from YouTube videos on Horticulture Economics Outreach.
Survey of the U.S. Passionfruit Industry, 2021-2024:
- Dr. Posadas works with fruit specialists and scientists from several universities and federal agencies in assessing the passionfruit industry in the United States. The research team conducted a survey to provide researchers and educators with baseline data to inform decision-making about future endeavors to help the passionfruit industry grow. This work is supported by the Specialty Crops Research Initiative [grant no. 2021-51181-35867/project accession no. 1027445] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
- This survey will provide the research team with important data on production and marketing challenges, marketing trends, and expectations that will be compiled and reported for the passionfruit industry. Presently this information does not exist. All results will be reported to survey participants and other stakeholders in the passion fruit industry to provide insight into how to support growers and the industry better.
- In the U.S., and its territories, passionfruit production has increased steadily since the 2002 USDA Agriculture census report; however, little is known about the reported production areas and how the industry functions. We conducted a national survey from March to May 2022 to assess passionfruit growers' and farm operational characteristics.
- Forty-four surveys were completed, with Florida having the most responses (21), followed by Puerto Rico (12) and California (6). Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Virgin Islands completed the remainder. This sample was about 12% of the total passionfruit farms in 2017.
Economic Impacts of Horticulture Research and Consumer Preferences for Horticulture Products, 2017-2024:
- This project will assess the economic impacts of the research and extension program on ornamental horticulture, vegetables, fruits, and nuts at the Mississippi State University (MSU) - Coastal Research and Extension Center (CREC).
- Dr. Posadas is working with several horticulturists at CREC and USDA. This work is partly supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Hatch project under accession number 232036.
- The specific objectives are as follows: develop a systematic methodology in assessing the economic impact of the research and extension program, and evaluate consumer preferences for flowers, such as poinsettias and wreath design.
- Also, Dr. Posadas is a graduate student's dissertation committee member. He guides them in applying economic analysis in their research projects which cover horticulture technology and sanitation practices.
Economic Contributions of the Mississippi Green Industry, 1999-2024
- The environmental horticulture industry, or green industry, is comprised of the wholesale nursery, greenhouse, and turfgrass sod producers, landscape design, construction and maintenance firms, and wholesale and retail distribution firms such as garden centers, home stores, mass merchandisers with lawn/garden departments, brokers and re-wholesale distribution centers, and allied trades suppliers of inputs to the industry.
- The total output or sales contributions of the entire green industry complex to the economy of Mississippi reached $2.486 billion in 2018. http://coastal.msstate.edu/economic-contributions-mississippi-green-indu...
