Census of agriculture (discontinued), 1999

A total of 3 000 man-years were worked in the horticulture industry in 1998. This does not include the work done in greenhouses. Cultivation of outdoor vegetables totalled 1 300 man-years, berry growing 1 000 and fruit growing 700.

The horticulture industry is mainly centred in Buskerud, Vestfold and Hordaland counties, where the labour input is between 360 and 400 man-years. In the first two counties the labour input is related to vegetable growing, while the input in Hordaland is mostly related to fruit growing.

This is the first time labour input in the horticulture sector has been charted in this way.

Mostly carrots

The number of holdings growing vegetables has been cut in half over the past 20 years to around 1 700 holdings. At the same time the land in production has risen 22 per cent, to 59 000 decares in 1999. Carrots are the largest single crop, accounting for 13 000 decares altogether. Next in line is the cultivation of peas and beans for canning factories at just over 8 000 decares, and common cabbage, common onions and cauliflower at around 5 000 decares each. Compared with 1979, land planted in carrots and common onions has increased by 1 200 and 1 600 decares respectively, while land planted with common cabbage has declined by half during the same period.

Vestfold has more cropland planted with vegetables than any other county, with almost 17 000 decares in 1999, up 70 per cent since 1979.

More morellos

The number of holdings engaged in growing fruit has been almost cut in half in the last 20 years. Last year, just over 1 600 holdings were registered as having at least one decare of fruit trees. Over half of fruit growers and nearly 60 per cent of orchards are located in Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane.

Apples are the most widely grown fruit, with apple orchards totalling almost 19 000 decares. Plums were grown on just over 3 000 decares, pears on 2 200 decares, morellos on 2 500 decares and cherries on almost 500 decares.

Around one-fifth of the apple orchards were planted after 1994, and one-third before 1985. Pear orchards have a much higher average age, and only five per cent were planted after 1994. Interest in growing morellos has increased considerably in recent years, and 40 per cent of these orchards were planted after 1994.

Fewer berry producers

The number of berry producers has also declined in the past 20 years. The number of strawberry producers has been cut in half to 1 300, while the number of raspberry producers has declined from 800 to 650 in the same period. Land planted with strawberries has increased by 1 500 decares to 16 500 decares, while raspberry growing has increased by 1 500 decares to 2 400 decares.

There is a distinct trend in strawberry growing towards fewer and fewer producers. The varieties grown have also changed. While Senga Sengana accounted for three-fourths of the cropland in 1985, this variety is now grown on 16 per cent of the land. The new variety Korona now accounts for almost half of the strawberry cropland.

In addition to strawberries and raspberries, black currents were grown on 2 000 decares, while other berries such as tame blueberries and red currents were grown on around 550 decares.

Tables:

• Table 1 Total number of man-hours in field grown vegetables, fruitgrowing and berryproduction by sex and conty and man-hours conducted by foreign labourforce. 1 000 man-hours. 1999*
• Table 2 Number of holdings with field grown vegetables, by county and size of area of field grown vegetables. 1979, 1985, 1989 and 1999*
• Table 3 Area of field grown vegetables by county and size of area of field grown vegetables. Decares. 1979, 1985, 1989 and 1999*.
• Table 4 Area of different field grown vegetables by county and size of area of field grown vegetables. 1979, 1985, 1989 and 1999*. Decares
• Table 5 Holdings and area of field grown vegetables where two or more yields are harvested at the same area, by county. 1985, 1989 and 1999*
• Table 6 Number of holdings with fruit trees , by county. 1979, 1985, 1989 and 1999*
• Table 7 Area of apple, plum and pear, by planting period, county and size of area of fruit trees. 1999*. Decares
• Table 8 Area of sweet cherry and sour cherry by planting period, county and size of area of fruit trees. 1999*. Decares
• Table 9 Number of holdings with strawberries and area of strawberries , by county and size of area of strawberries. 1979, 1985, 1989 and 1999*
• Table 10 Number of holdings with raspberries and area of raspberries , by county and size of area of raspberries. 1979, 1985, 1989 and 1999*
• Table 11 Municipalities with largest area of field grown vegetables . 1999*
• Table 12 Municipalities with largest area of strawberries . 1999*