This book has evolved out of experience gained during 15 years of teaching a course on fruit and vegetable marketing to Cornell University undergrad uates. Initially it was difficult to assemble written material that would intro duce the students to the industry and provide examples to illustrate market ing principles. Apart from a few major studies like the U. S. Department of Agriculture's survey of wholesale markets that came out in 1964 or the re port of the National Commission on Food Marketing published in 1966 there was little research to turn to in the early 1970s. Trade association meetings, trade papers, and personal contacts with members of the industry were the major sources of information. It became necessary to collect infor mation from many different sources to fill the need for a descriptive base. Now there are many good research reports and articles being published on various phases of the industry. There still remains a pressing need, however, to consolidate and interpret this information so that it provides an under standing of the total system and its various parts. Fresh fruit and vegetable marketing is different in many respects from the marketing of other agricultural and nonagricultural products. Hundreds of individual commodities comprise the total group. Each product has its own special requirements for growing and handling, with its own quality attributes, merchandising methods, and standards of consumer acceptance.

This volume, Temperate Fruits: Production, Processing, and Marketing, presents the latest pomological research on the production, postharvest handling, processing and storage, and information on marketing for a selection of temperate fruits. These include apple, pear, quince, peach, plum, sweet cherry, kiwifruit, strawberry, mulberry, and chestnut. With chapters from fruit experts from different countries of the world, the book provides the latest information on the effect of climate change on fruit production, organic fruit growing and advanced fruit breeding, the nutraceutical value and bioactive compounds in fruits and their role in human health, and new and advanced methods of fruit production. Topics include microirrigation, sustainable nutrient management, crop protection and plant health management, and farm mechanization.

Conference report on trends in agricultural production and agricultural marketing of fruits in Asia and Pacific - examines agronomyc aspects and agricultural economics of fruit production, related agricultural policies, the international commodity market for fresh and processed tropical fruits, etc.; includes a case study of the fruit industry (food industry) in Thailand, and national level reports. List of participants. Diagrams, graphs, statistical tables.