PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
ON FRESH PRODUCE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT



6 to 10 December 2006
Lotus Pang Suan Kaeo Hotel, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Edited by
Peter J. Batt and Jean-Joseph Cadilhon

RAP PUBLICATION 2007/21

Agricultural and Food Marketing Association for Asia and the Pacific

Curtin University of Technology

Department of Agriculture
Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific





Download Report (in pdf format)

Table of contents and Introduction (230KB)
Keynote Address (74KB)
Market Analyses (414KB)
Supply Chain Management (673KB)
Quality Management (863KB)

This is a publication containing proceedings of a meeting jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. As such, the opinions expressed in the individual papers are those of the respective authors, and not necessarily those of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Likewise, the mention of companies and organizations in the individual papers does not reflect any judgement whatsoever by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on their activities.

The designation and presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Agricultural and Food Marketing Association for Asia and the Pacific, Curtin University of Technology or of the Department of Agriculture of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries.

All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product for educational or other non-commercial purposes are authorized without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of material in this information product for sale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyright holders. Applications for such permission should be addressed to the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Maliwan Mansion, 39 Phra Athit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand or by e-mail to [email protected].




© FAO, AFMA, Curtin University of Technology,
Department of Agriculture of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives,
2007




Cover photos: J.-J. Cadilhon
 Cover design: J.-J. Cadilhon and A. Petcharat


For copies, write to:

FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
39 Phra Athit Road
Bangkok 10200
THAILAND
Tel: (+66) 2 697 4000
Fax: (+66) 2 697 4445
E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

With the increasing need to assure consumers that the food they intend to consume is safe and nutritious, the food industry is moving away from the traditional means of buying towards a more direct and reliable means of procurement where buyers exert greater control over prices, quality and production methods. Unable to respond to the demands of the institutional buyers, there is a very real risk in the transitional economies that most smallholder farmers will become increasingly marginalized and face diminishing returns. Development agencies worldwide are giving increasing attention to the concepts of supply chain management in seeking to address the growing income disparity between smallholder farmers and the urban community. This publication is the proceedings of the “International Symposium on Fresh Produce Supply Chain Management” held from 6 to 10 December 2006 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It contains 43 case studies of successful horticultural marketing around the world, divided into three sections: market analyses, supply chain management and quality management. The papers address the following questions: do producers know what consumers want? How can farmers and traders coordinate their activities to meet the needs of the institutional market? How is it possible to introduce and implement quality assurance systems for horticultural producers? Also included is a summary of the policy recommendations that were proposed during the presentations and interventions to develop competitive agribusinesses and agro-industries within the horticultural sector.