Characteristics of Midwest Commercial Market Demand for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

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Date
1984
Authors
Spotton, Brenda
Weimar, Mark
Hayenga, Marvin
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Economics

The Department of Economic Science was founded in 1898 to teach economic theory as a truth of industrial life, and was very much concerned with applying economics to business and industry, particularly agriculture. Between 1910 and 1967 it showed the growing influence of other social studies, such as sociology, history, and political science. Today it encompasses the majors of Agricultural Business (preparing for agricultural finance and management), Business Economics, and Economics (for advanced studies in business or economics or for careers in financing, management, insurance, etc).

History
The Department of Economic Science was founded in 1898 under the Division of Industrial Science (later College of Liberal Arts and Sciences); it became co-directed by the Division of Agriculture in 1919. In 1910 it became the Department of Economics and Political Science. In 1913 it became the Department of Applied Economics and Social Science; in 1924 it became the Department of Economics, History, and Sociology; in 1931 it became the Department of Economics and Sociology. In 1967 it became the Department of Economics, and in 2007 it became co-directed by the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Business.

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1898–present

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  • Department of Economic Science (1898–1910)
  • Department of Economics and Political Science (1910-1913)
  • Department of Applied Economics and Social Science (1913–1924)
  • Department of Economics, History and Sociology (1924–1931)
  • Department of Economics and Sociology (1931–1967)

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Economics
Abstract

This report summarizes the results of a commercial market survey conducted in four major midwest cities: Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City and Minneapolis. The purposes of the survey were to establish the general market requirements for fresh produce, particularly for potential new suppliers, and to estimate the demand for more than a dozen fruits and vegetables which Iowa may be able to produce competitively. The general conclusion reached is that all fresh produce marketed at this level has to be of top quality in appearance and packaging, and be precooled where necessary for extended shelf-life. In addition, major suppliers to retail chains (about 76 percent of the total market for fresh produce) must maintain consistent and reliable supplies at competitive prices. The large produce growing states, especially California, have set the industry's quality standards. For Iowa growers to compete at the retail and wholesale level requires high professional standards in all aspects of fresh fruit and vegetable production and marketing.

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