Technology in Food Marketing: A Survey of Developments and Trends in the Processing and Distribution of Farm-Produced Foods, 1930-50

Excerpts from the Preface: The report that follows brings together information on major technological developments in all phases of food marketing, with special emphasis on progress during the last 20 years. Attention has been given to the rate at which new methods have been adopted Insofar as data are available, an attempt has been made to appraise the present and the potential effects of major developments upon the marketing mechanism itself and upon producers and consumers of food. Thus this report is concerned with the impact of technology upon the whole complex of enterprises, from assembling to retailing, that go to make up food marketing. This over-all appraisal of technology in food marketing draws primarily upon material already available. Such material is extensive, but it is scattered and uneven. A few of the aspects of technological development have been studied in detail, some partially, and many others not at all. The selection of the examples and case studies used in this report sometimes reflects the unevenness of material, although it also should be pointed out that the report is in no way intended as a comprehensive compendium. Among its other purposes, the present report is intended as a guide to the direction of future research in the many areas of the field for which further facts and analyses are needed. The report, however, does bring together for the first time information on all aspects of the impact of technology upon the marketing of foods. It is hoped that the resulting picture of the whole broad area, insofar as such a dynamic situation can be caught on paper, will in itself be of value. It is also hoped that appraisal of present and potential effects of technology will bring out major trends more clearly and will help to shed light on some of the problems that are likely to require decisions on the part of industry, Government, or the general public.