Demand for Farm-Raised Channel Catfish in Supermarkets: Analysis of a Selected Market

In March and April 1972, a controlled Latin square market experiment was performed in six Atlanta, Ga., grocery stores to determine the demand for fresh channel catfish in supermarkets. Prices ranging from $0.79 to $1.29 per pound in 10-cent increments were used to elicit quantity responses. These responses were used to estimate linear, log-linear, and log-log forms of a demand curve. The resulting demand curves indicate an elastic demand for catfish within the experimental price range. Only about one of every 150 customers purchased catfish at the current price of about $1.19 per pound. Results of a consumer questionnaire indicate the possibility of expanding the market by introducing more convenient product forms at a reasonable cost to the consumer