Abstract
Farmers are both decreasing in number and aging overall, and so it is essential that a new “crop” of farmers be generated. The number of high-quality fruit production areas remains the same as it ever was. However, substantial experience of several years is necessary before one can master fruit cultivation methods; therefore, it is difficult to derive a stable income level during that experience- gathering period. Therefore, this study examines important production methods by which that income can be earned. We selected Okayama as the study area and muscat as a high-quality fruit, and we found that the introduction of muscat production in processing leads to the earning of a more stable income; in addition, these conditions lead to fewer work hours among the farmers thus employed, and they help mitigate the risk of failure.
