Title: Consumer ring count and grain texture preferences of selected eastern United States hardwoods

Author: Alderman, Delton; Bumgardner, Matthew; Bowe, Scott; Brinberg, David

Year: 2008

Publication: In: Jacobs, Douglass F.; Michler, Charles H., eds. 2008. Proceedings, 16th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2008 April 8-9; West Lafayette, IN. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-24. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 101-104.

Abstract: Historically, eastern hardwoods have been a staple of forest products production. However, hardwood producers are now faced with serious challenges from substitutable products, such as imports of foreign species, utilization of foreign species in overseas manufacture (e.g., case goods, etc.), and composite-based materials that are imported or manufactured here in the United States. In today's globally competitive marketplace, product distinction is a key to success. Without a functioning manufacturing base, forest management and subsequently forest health, sustainable forestry, and markets for U.S. timberland owners are potentially diminished. Consumer data for ring-density count and grain texture preferences were collected via field studies at several sites in the U.S.