INTRODUCTION

We will follow for the XXIIIrd IHC of 1990 in Florence the same procedure and we have made firm commitments with the chairmen of sections, commissions and working groups to publish in 1991 these volumes.

It is clear that these publications can only be realized with the important assistance of these chairmen, some moderators and editors and finally of the authors by using the ISHS-publishing system.

We are grateful for the work done by P. Van Lookeren Campagne and M. van der Schilden for this volume Acta Horticulturae 295 on Economics & Marketing.

This issue of Acta Horticulture presents contributions to the Economic Sessions of the XXIIIe Horticultural Congress of the I.S.H.S. held in Florence, Italy from August 26 to September 1, 1990.

Because there was no Acta printed of this Congress the Workinggroup of Labour and Management has taken the initiative to collect the papers from the economic and marketing session as well as the labour contributions.

I am very glad that the coöperation of the Economic Commission and the Working Group for Labour and Management makes it possible to organise sessions together and I hope this will be possible in the future as well.

The contents of the various papers proves that there is a great field of common interest.

The Institute of Agricultural Engineering (IMAG) in Wageningen, the Netherlands must be thanked for providing the means for two employees to work on this issue. In a time where research is privatisized work, it becomes more and more difficult to find spare time to do all the administration and editing for an Acta Horticulturea.

Finally, I would like to thank our Italian hosts, who have organized a perfect congress, for all the work they have done. Their efforts, the pittoresk ambience and the beautifull city of Florence with its vicinity made this congress into an unforgettable week.

Peter van Lookeren Campagne
Chairman
Working Group Labour and Management