THE IMPACT OF TRANSPORTATION ON THE GROWTH OF THE CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY INDUSTRY
The problem that was examined in this research study was be the extent to which transportation-related factors contributed to the growth of the strawberry industry in California over the 1985-1994 period. Within the context of this problem, two research questions were investigated. These questions were as follows:
1. To what extent did air transportation of fresh strawberries to market contribute to the growth of the strawberry industry in California during the 1985-1994 period in relation to the contribution made by other forms of transportation?
2. Is the competitive position of air transportation in the shipment of fresh California strawberries in the 1995-2004 period likely to deteriorate?
Research hypotheses were tested in relation to each of the research questions investigated through the conduct of this study. These research hypotheses were as follows:
1. One hypothesis was tested in relation to research question number one. This hypothesis was as follows: Air transportation of fresh strawberries accounted for 25 percent of the growth in the shipments of California strawberries to markets 1,000 miles or more distant from the industry's production areas and storage facilities in California over the 1985-1994 period.
2. One hypothesis was tested in relation to research question two. This hypothesis was as follows: The market share of air transportation in the shipment of fresh California strawberries to markets 1,000 miles or more distant from the industry's production areas and storage facilities in California will deteriorate 25 percent over the 1995-2004 period.
The data required for the investigation of research question one and for the testing of research hypothesis number one were obtained from published government and industry sources. The data required for the investigation of research question number two and the...