Euro-Mediterranean Supply Chain Developments and Trends in Trade Structures, in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Sector

Supply chains for fresh fruit and vegetables, are going through considerable re-shaping phase worldwide.This study analyses the trends which impose those changes and focuses mainly at the wholesale and exporttrading of the Euro-Mediterranean supply chain (namely, on how fruit and vegetable producer, wholesaleand export firms react to the market forces that direct them).Producer organizations and wholesale firms one the one hand of The Netherlands, Germany and other EUmember countries, and of Non- EU Member Mediterranean countries, on the other hand, are the subject ofthis study. Two graphical representation of the Dutch and the German supply chains respectively arepresented here as the main instrument to demonstrate the dynamics of the sectors structure, by describingthe position, function size and development for the main chain partner in each of the aforementionedmarkets. The Euro-Med dimension of the fruit and vegetable supply chain, is analyzed by attempting animpact assessment and an estimation of the potential development of further supply chain integration orcollaboration between firms in EU member countries and Mediterranean partner countries.The existing policy framework (the CMO for the fruit and vegetable sector of the CAP), is also taken intoconsideration as it particularly affects the relationships developed between producer organizations andwholesale firms and retail chains.