Economic Impact of the Fruit Industry
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It is the purpose of this study to show more completely the economic impact of the fruit industry on the Marlborough area. The need for a more complete appraisal of the impact of agriculture has been felt for many years, and four studies have been made for this purpose in New York State, though none in a fruit area. This study was made in a fruit area and was undertaken in response to a request from the Town Board of Marlborough, Ulster County, New York. Data have previously been gathered on acreage, tree numbers, cost of production, product value, and numerous other fruit farm items. But economic activity on farms is only part of the total economic activity generated by orchards. The cliche, "Agriculture is more than farming," needs to be documented. We speak of agriculture but think of farming. The Census of Agriculture is really only a census of farming. We speak of the agricultural labor force, but the data show only farm workers. We talk about agricultural income, but the data show only the amount of money received by farmers.