Final answer:
Lean or lite beef specifications target healthier and tastier beef options that can command higher prices due to consumer preferences for grass-fed over grain-fed beef. Market trends show a decrease in beef consumption in favor of chicken, reflecting a shift in taste and demand curves. While there is an increased awareness of sustainable consumption, meat remains a highly valued food category, presenting challenges in changing dietary habits.
Step-by-step explanation:
Knowing about lean or lite beef specification targets is important in understanding market preferences and dietary trends. Historically, cattle in the United States were often grazed on open lands, maturing to market size before being rounded up for feedlot finishing on a diet of corn and silage. This conventional method of beef production tends towards fattier beef, often processed into various cuts such as hamburgers and steaks. Alternatively, some modern ranchers opt to feed their cattle a grass-only diet, which, despite being more costly, yields a product that is considered both healthier and tastier by many beef connoisseurs, allowing it to fetch a higher market price.
Moving toward more sustainable consumption, the concept of flexitarianism arises, where meat is consumed less frequently but can be enjoyed on special occasions, aligning with resources and energy concerns over strict ethical considerations. This change in consumer behavior toward less frequent meat consumption has been reflected in market trends, with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data showing a significant decrease in per-person beef consumption from 1980 to 2014, shifting the demand curve for beef leftward.
Consumer preference plays a critical role in the market, as evidenced by a study by Lusk and Norwood identifying meat as the most valuable food category, underlining the formidable challenge in shifting dietary habits towards vegetarianism. The majority of consumers derive considerable pleasure from eating meat, hence a shift towards leaner and lighter beef options may be more palatable than a complete transition to a plant-based diet.