Horticulture industry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 676.9 million tonnes (666,200,000 long tons; 746,200,000 short tons). Global vegetable production (including melons) was estimated at 879.2 million tonnes (865,300,000 long tons; 969,200,000 short tons) 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