Horticulture industry explained

The horticulture industry embraces the production, processing and shipping of and the market for fruits and vegetables. As such it is a sector of agribusiness and industrialized agriculture. Industrialized horticulture sometimes also includes the floriculture industry and production and trade of ornamental plants.

Among the most important fruits are:

• bananas
• Semi-tropical fruits like lychee, guava or tamarillo^[1]
• Citrus fruits
• soft fruits (berries)
• apples
• stone fruits

Important vegetables include:

• Potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Onions and
• Cabbage

In 2013 global fruit production was estimated at . Global vegetable production (including melons) was estimated at with China and India being the two top producing countries.^{[2] [3]}

Value chain

The horticultural value chain includes:^[4]

• Inputs: elements needed for production; seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, farm equipment, irrigation equipment, GMO technology
• Production for export: includes fruit and vegetables production and all processes related to growth and harvesting; planting, weeding, spraying, picking
• Packing and cold storage: grading, washing, trimming, chopping, mixing, packing, labeling, blast chilling
• Processed fruit and vegetables: dried, frozen, preserved, juices, pulps; mostly for increasing shelf life
• Distribution and marketing: supermarkets, small scale retailers, wholesalers, food service

Companies

Fruit

• Chiquita Brands International
• Del Monte Foods
• Dole Food Company

Genetically modified crops / GMO

See main article: Genetically modified crops.

• Monsanto/Bayer

External links

• Web site: INCREASING CONSUMPTION OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS. FAO. 2005. Izham Ahmad, Chua Piak Chwee. FFA (future farmers of America)
• fruit logistica conference 2017

Notes and References

1. http://www.fruitsinfo.com/sub-tropical-fruits.htm All A-Z information on Subtropical fruits
2. Book: Cold Chain Logistics in Horticulture & Agriculture. Winsar Publishing Company. Fruit Processing Industry in India: A Short Review. 2016. 10.13140/RG.2.1.2155.3047/1. Aanchal Sharma. Binod Kumar Singh. Anand. Neeraj.
3. Web site: Global Horticulture (2014 -2018) - Pink and Healthy. 19 August 2014. PRNewswire.
4. Web site: 2011. CGGC, Duke University. The Fruit and Vegetables Global Value Chain – ECONOMIC UPGRADING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. Karina Fernandez-Stark. Penny Bamber. Gary Gereffi. 12 August 2016. 16 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120916132257/http://cggc.duke.edu/pdfs/2011-11-10_CGGC_Fruit-and-Vegetables-Global-Value-Chain.pdf. dead.