Farmer cooperatives in the food economy of Western Europe: an analysis from the Marketing point of view

This paper is concerned with an analysis of farmer cooperatives in Western Europe from the marketing point of view. The analysis is restricted to marketing and processing cooperatives. First some basic characteristics of farmer cooperatives are discussed from a systems point of view. Afterwards changes in the environment of farmer cooperatives are reviewed. Their impact on farmer cooperatives is analysed. Finally some hypotheses on future developments of West European cooperatives are presented. Our analysis suggests that West European cooperatives will become increasingly hybrid systems, being democratic in the general policy stage and hierarchical in the executive stag

Grading and sorting as a method of market segmentation for agricultural products

The concepts of market segmentation, grading and sorting are outlined and criteria are proposed. The application of these criteria to the sorting of cucumbers and tomatoes did not achieve effective market segmentation, and quality grading was only partially achieved. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission

De concurrentiekracht van de Nederlandse landbouw : overwegingen bij een symposium

Inleidend artikel over het Nederlandse ondernemerschap in het verleden en eisen van aanpassingen voor de toekoms