Final answer:
The primary factor in von Thünen's model for choosing commercial farm products is market location (B). This model emphasizes the importance of transportation costs and predicts that more perishable goods are grown closer to markets, whereas less perishable goods are grown further away.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary factor in Johann Heinrich von Thünen's model for choosing commercial farm products is B) Market location. Von Thünen's model is a spatial analysis used to determine land use based on the cost of transportation. He argued that farming decisions, such as what crops to grow, heavily depend on the distance to the market. The model predicts that land closer to the market will produce perishable and transportation-sensitive goods, such as dairy and fresh vegetables. In contrast, lands farther away from the market would focus on less perishable and more easily transported crops, like grains.
According to von Thünen, the cost of land, while important, was not the primary factor; rather, the cost of transportation was the most crucial element to consider for profitability. This is because farmers needed to minimize the costs of getting their products to consumers to maintain competitive pricing.
Although advancements like refrigeration and rapid transportation have modified the practical application of von Thünen's model, the core logic regarding transportation costs still significantly impacts agricultural practices today. For example, market gardening farms are often still located within a day's drive of a nearby city's produce warehouse district, as suggested by the model.