This paper identifies a difference in "capital accumulation structure, a concept summed up by both profitability and function of capital which is composed of a profit or borrowed capital," between the large milk processing industries, Snow Brand Milk Products, Morinaga Milk Industry and Meiji Dairies Corporation, through analysis of investment in and operation of the plants, mainly in Hokkaido. The period from 1985 to 2004 is remarkable because overproduction of dairy goods in the domestic market was very clear. Snow Brand has the smallest investment of the three, with Meiji the largest. It is supposed that investment expands production ability, which correlates with the amount of property per labor. Therefore, expansion of production ability, mainly "milk" or cheese, for Meiji is highest, with Morinaga and Snow Brand lower. Considering the similarities and differences in the three enterprises, with the expansion of the production ability accompaning the amount of production in Morinaga and Meiji, it is clear that these two companies operate their plants more efficiently than Snow Brand.

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Since pesticide residue used in Chinese agriculture was found in vegetables exported to Japan in 2001, Chinese vegetable trade companies have been taking active measures to guarantee the safety of exported vegetables to Japan. Through investigation and analysis of Shanghai S Trade Company's association with production & process enterprises, this paper illustrates the S "association" trade system's effect on exported vegetables safety management. Although the S association trade company is a loose associated organization, it has realized resource sharing in talent, technology, information, and the reallocation benefit system in production & process enterprises. On this basis, the trade company and the production & process company formed Standard Integrated System to resolve the disjointed phenomenon between trade and production & process. The S Association not only strengthens food safety management in the process of vegetable trade, production and process, but also realizes the internal regulation of export quantity and production & process quantity, so as to prevent blind production and blind export. This new trade system of exported vegetables to Japan aims to perfect the Farm Products Trade System in China.

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[in Japanese]

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This study investigated the produce wholesale market in the Tokatsu District of Chiba Prefecture in order to clarify direct shipment distribution system of vegetables by individual farmers. Firstly, collection of vegetables by individual farmers at the Tokatsu district wholesale market was clarified. Secondly, the distribution of individual farmer's vegetables in the Tokatsu district wholesale market was clarified. Thirdly, distribution of individual farmer produce in suburban areas of large cities was examined along with a comparison of the conditions of distribution of individual farmer produce from Tokatsu in the central wholesale markets in Tokyo and in the local wholesale markets of the southeastern portion of Saitama Prefecture. The Tokatsu district wholesale market, in both the morning and evening markets, is a very active destination for Tokatsu district farmers. In nearly all the markets, a regional collection system has been formed. Yet many producers also ship to wholesale markets in Tokyo. In certain wholesale markets, there is also a high percentage of collections from Ibaraki Prefecture, and collection areas could be extended. The morning market, a consumption district market, forms a regional distribution system whose main activity is distribution to the Tokatsu district. In the evening market, distribution to wholesale markets in the Keihin district or to the prefectures of Tohoku is high, with brokers and middle-wholesalers acting as intermediaries and these markets as shipping point markets.

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This paper considered the problem and the strategies regarding the strengthening relations of local restaurants and traditional vegetable production areas by examining a case study of the Ebi-imo, a traditional vegetable of Kyoto. The restaurants in Kyoto Prefecture were divided into three types based on the use of Ebi-imo : a quality valuing type, a standard and price valuing type, and a combining type. While Ebi-imo made in Kyoto is highly valued for its taste and texture, retail sales and delivery is not steady. Therefore, Ebi-imo producing areas need to strengthen relations to achieve steady shipments, expand production, improve the information function and promote contracted dealings for restaurants of the quality valuing type and the combining type, while using existing marketing channels.

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[in Japanese]

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This paper analyzes the function and structure of mandarin marketing organizations in the Sasebo District, known as a high-priced mandarin producing area, in order to identify measures to achieve high quality mandarin production and shipment characterized by standard time, quantity and quality. The research clarifies that the marketing organization, defined as the "marketing organization of local farmers initiative," has important roles both in producing and marketing. On the other hand, the research identifies several problems with the area, namely, changes in the class structure of farms, high management costs and the heavy task of mandarin sorting in farms.

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This paper discusses the characteristics of consumers who are more likely to frequently purchase organic agricultural products. Statistical analysis, based on individual data obtained from the Japanese General Social Survey 2003, clearly suggests that consumers more likely to frequently purchase organic agricultural products: (1) are female, aged in their 60s, higher income earners, cooperative members, and residents in the Kinki region; (2) frequently buy foods; (3) read newspapers frequently; and (4) have high social capital levels.

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Recently, several cases of food poisoning caused by unsafe vegetables (high contamination of nitrates and pesticides) have been exposed and widely broadcast in the media in Vietnam. While government encouragement has led to production and sale of safe vegetables in many sites, consumption remains low. The present research was undertaken with the aim of determining why consumption of safe vegetables remains low. The results indicate that Hue consumers fear unsafe vegetables and have strong interest in using safe products for the sake of health. However, people did not fully understand the various issues regarding safe vegetables, and ultimately they decide to buy vegetables based on condition rather than sales venue and place, whether inside or outside of safe vegetable shops. This study also revealed that consumers did not fully trust the quality of safe vegetables and regarded their price as too high, with consumer income and age significantly influencing the consumption of safe vegetables.

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This paper outlines the characteristics of the governor's quality guarantee systems and the role of product differentiation for local governments in South Korea, examining the case of Gangwon Province, one of the first areas to adopt the governor's quality guarantee system among Korean local governments. Classification is based on the governor's quality guaranteed products and Gangwon green mark products, with the former products classified on the basis of safety. In Gangwon Province, the governor's quality guaranteed products increased both the number of certifications and the level of production and sales since the system was adopted in 2001. This is due to an increase in consumer recognition of governor's quality guaranteed products on the basis of local government sales activities (ex. opening pilot stores, holding exhibitions for provincial products with retailers and other local governments). Clearly it is necessary to increase the recognition and strengthen the activities for safety of provincial products.

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This paper analyzed the export of cabbages from Japan to Taiwan in summer 2005, during a period of overproduction in Japan and shortage in Taiwan. At that time, Taiwan began to import cabbage as an emergency measure and the export from Japan saw dramatic increase with low prices. Despite the seasonal difference of cabbage production between Japan and Taiwan and the Japanese oversupply countered by shortage in Taiwan, there was no proper trade channel for cabbage in 2005, causing reduced freshness and oversupply in Taiwan. Improved export strategy can be organized based on: 1) construction of a systematic export channel for cabbage; 2) organization of appropriate supply and price mechanisms. In addition, such a 'market fluctuation-based export strategy' could expand the Japanese export of other agricultural products.

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The main objective of this paper is to clarify whether social capital has a positive effect on food nutrient intake or food security among homeless people. The statistical analysis, based on the individual data obtained from our interview survey conducted in Kita-Kyushu, clearly suggests that the effects of social capital are different by resident status.

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The purpose of this paper is to describe the partnership between the Supermarkets and Vegetable Farming Co-ops which are bringing about development of a Fruit and Vegetables Distribution Channel in Shanghai City and to examine some of the effects of two partnership forms (Consignment Association and Purchase Association) on the basis of results of a survey undertaken in Shanghai City. (1) The research concludes that the formation of large-scale cultivated land areas and introduction of fresh foodstuff counters inside Supermarket stores are the main impetus for the partnership. (2) The advantages of the partnership are in food safety security, stability in operation and dealings, improved customer attraction and realization of a value-added price. However, the partnership also has some disadvantages, for example, sending staff to partner co-ops increases costs and supplying only from the Vegetable Co-op limits product variety. (3) The risk with the ownership of product has resulted in conflict between Supermarket and Vegetable Farming Co-ops. However, wholesale market takes a part in the transaction risk diversification by diversifying the goods and selling those that can not meet the standards of Supermarkets.

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This paper attempts to clarify formation of a leased land farm system based on analysis of a vegetable export company in Fujian Province, China, which has built a large-scale vegetable producing farm. FJ Company has leased all the land of a local village through the intercession of the People's Committee of the village. The company has also built an organization system for management of both the farm and growing.

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