Finanzas

ESTUDIO SOBRE EL CONSUMO DE LECHE UHT Y LECHE FRESCA EN EL
AREA CENTRAL DE PUERTO RICO
Por:
Angel J. Terán Ramos
Tesis sometida en cumplimiento parcial de los requisitos para el grado de
MAESTRO EN CIENCIAS
en
Economía Agrícola
UNIVERSIDAD DE PUERTO RICO
RECINTO UNIVERSITARIO DE MAYAGUEZ
2007

Aprobado por:
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Leyda Ponce de León, Ph.D.
Miembro, ComitéGraduado

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Fecha

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Gladys M. González Martínez, Ph.D.
Miembro, Comité Graduado

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Fecha

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Jorge A. González Soto, Ph.D., J.D.
Presidente, Comité Graduado

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Fecha

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Nilsa Velázquez, M.A, J.D.
Representante de Estudios Graduados

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Fecha_____________________________
Director de Departamento
Jorge A. González Soto, Ph.D., J.D.

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Fecha

Abstract
The main objective of this investigation was to analyze the factors that are
negatively affecting the Milk Industry in Puerto Rico. The total production of milk is
decreasing each year and the fresh milk demand is declining. On the other hand the
consumption of UHT milk and low fatmilk are increasing. Another problem is that the
dairy farmer receives less income by each liter of surplus milk. The data obtained for this
study was analyzed and found that the main factors affecting the consumption of fresh
milk are the flavor, to be healthy, and the retail price of milk. The main factors that
affect the consumption for UHT milk are the packing and convenience, retailprice, and
the flavor. The fresh milk obtained a price elasticity of 0.76, which indicates, that is
inelastic and UHT milk obtained a price elasticity of 1.20, which indicates that is elastic.
In other words, the consumers of UHT milk are more sensitive price changes in contrast
with the consumers of fresh milk. It was found that the positioning of the UHT milk
compared with fresh milk is thefollowing: the UHT milk is cheaper, has a better
package, is equal of healthy, has an equal freshness, has the same quality but has worse
flavor than fresh milk. In our sample, the exclusive consumer of fresh milk is of both
genders (female and male) with an average age of 40 years. Their education level is a
Bachelor degree. They are employees in the labor force of the country and are married.Their family is composed of three persons with a person of less than 18 years living in
the home. The average income of their family is $19,395. They live in a rural zone. The
exclusive consumer of UHT milk is feminine, with an average age of 38 years. Her level
of education is under High School. Is an employee in the labor force of the country and is

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married. Her family is composed offour persons with a least one person of less than 18
years living in the home. The average income of her family is $19,632. She lives in a
rural zone. It was found that the Fresh milk is less substitutable than UHT milk by its
elasticity and generally the UHT milk is a substitute good for 28% of the consumers of
Fresh milk. The Fresh milk is a substitute good for 72% of the consumers of UHTmilk.

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Resumen
El objetivo principal de esta investigación fue analizar los factores que están
afectando negativamente la industria lechera de Puerto Rico. La producción total de leche
esta disminuyendo cada año y la demanda por leche Fresca íntegra esta disminuyendo.
Por otro lado el consumo de leche UHT y leche Fresca baja en grasa, están aumentando.
El principal problema es quelos ganaderos reciben menos ingresos por cada litro de leche
excedente. De los datos obtenidos se encontró que los factores principales que afectan el
consumo de leche fresca son: su sabor, ser saludable y su precio al detal. Los principales
factores que afectan el consumo de leche UHT son: empaque, conveniencia, precio al
detal, y su sabor. La leche fresca obtuvo una elasticidad-precio de...