The economics of apple production

Publication date: 10/05/2017
Extent: 26 pages

Contributions by: R. Karina Gallardo, Washington State University, USA; and Hildegard Garming, Thünen Institute of Farm Economics, Germany

Chapter synopsis: Economic prosperity is essential to guarantee sustainability, and this chapter provides a cost analysis of apple production worldwide, including classification of production cost studies, an exploration of different cost study approaches and categories included in cost-of-production studies. The chapter analyses the economics of worldwide apple production, including Germany, Italy, South Africa, Switzerland and Chile. A detailed case study of apple production in Washing-ton State is also provided. The chapter includes a comparison of production costs by apple variety across the United States, Germany, Italy and South Africa. Given the importance of international markets for major apple-producing countries in the world, the chapter considers apple production in relation to global trends in production and international trade. It discusses structural changes in the apple industry around the world, trends in production systems and technologies, and major stressors for apple production.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2016.0017.27