Articles
STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN GERMAN HORTICULTURE DURING THE LAST DECADE
Article number
155_56
Pages
335 – 342
Language
Abstract
Mainly based on the recently published results of a Federal Horticultural Census, the characteristic features of the horticultural industry and the changes in the structure of units involved in horticultural production are outlined.
During the ’70s glasshouse production had to cope with the energy price jumps in 1972/73 and in 1979/80. Fruit growing recovered from a period of overproduction in the EEC, and vegetable growing was affected by the weak competitive position of the German processing industry.
The development is characterized by increasing importance of marketing, trade and service activities, by changing cropping programmes, by a concentration of production to full time horticultural firms at the cost of horticultural enterprises in agricultural firms, and by a substantial growth of the firm size.
German horticulture may be more successfull in future in using advantages of the specific situation of the individual firm for supplying a differentiated demand than in efficient production for mass market outlets.
During the ’70s glasshouse production had to cope with the energy price jumps in 1972/73 and in 1979/80. Fruit growing recovered from a period of overproduction in the EEC, and vegetable growing was affected by the weak competitive position of the German processing industry.
The development is characterized by increasing importance of marketing, trade and service activities, by changing cropping programmes, by a concentration of production to full time horticultural firms at the cost of horticultural enterprises in agricultural firms, and by a substantial growth of the firm size.
German horticulture may be more successfull in future in using advantages of the specific situation of the individual firm for supplying a differentiated demand than in efficient production for mass market outlets.
Publication
Authors
H. Storck
Keywords
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