Abstract
This study clarifies the reasons why a cooperative shipping system was formulated by Ehime citrus production groups before the War, by analyzing a case of the traders' withdrawal from the Uwa Citrus Guild. Before the Second World War, there were many citrus farmers possessing high quality production technology in Kitauwa Province, Ehime Prefecture. On the other hand, several native traders had control over the marketing of citrus produced in the province. Because the traders' criteria for citrus selection were not unified among them even after the Uwa Citrus Guild was established, the outcome of their marketing didn't satisfy the farmers, who had pride as brand leaders. As a result, the farmers forced the traders to withdraw from the guild. These developments were strongly related to the Tachima Citrus Cooperative, which had already established a cooperative shipping system, together with the broad economic power of the farmers who belonged to it.
