Catalogue description Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: Horticultural Marketing Council: Records

In 1955 the government appointed a Committee of Enquiry into Horticultural Marketing to investigate the effectiveness of contemporary horticultural markets. The committee's recommendations led to the passing of the Horticulture Act 1960 which established the Horticulture Marketing Council. The council was initially funded by the government, but was eventually to be financed by charges on the horticultural industry. Its functions were to compile and publish information about the industry and to encourage standardisation amongst producers in various ways to facilitate marketing. When funding could not be raised from the industry after three years of public finance, the council was wound up (1962) and its functions re-absorbed into the Horticulture Division.