Barriers to the development of the short supply chain for local food producers in Romania

• Author: Dovleac L., Balasescu M.
• Pages: 35-44

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series V: Economic Sciences • Vol. 10 (59) No. 1 - 2017

Barriers to the development of the short supply chain

for local food producers in Romania

Lavinia DOVLEAC1, Marius BĂLĂȘESCU2

Abstract: This article highlights the importance of short food supply chains for the

development of rural areas in Romania, considering the increasing demand of the population

for healthy food. A proper functionality of these local food supply chains brings benefits to

producers, consumers and the local community, but some issues must be solved. This article

presents the results of a qualitative marketing research study conducted for identifying the

difficulties in this sector. The study aimed to identify the small producers’ opinions on the

barriers to the development of these supply chains and how they could be helped to sell their

products at a fair price.

Key-words: short food supply chain, organic areas, local farming, marketing research.

1. Introduction

In recent years, increasing attention has been given to promoting short supply food

chains, all over the world. The growing interest in short food supply chains reflects

the consumer demand for quality and traceability, given the alarming health crises in

food markets (Aubry and Kebir, 2013).

Across the European Union (European Parliament, 2016), a growing number

of consumers choose to buy food products on local farmers' markets, directly at the

farm, through basket/box delivery systems or other community-supported

agriculture schemes. European customers tend to associate local products with

higher quality standards (freshness, nutritional value), healthy eating, more

environment-friendly production methods and a lower carbon footprint. A 2011

Eurobarometer survey (European Commission, 2011) shows that nine out of ten

citizens agree that there are benefits to buying products from a local farm.

For farmers, short food supply chains are attractive opportunities for

diversifying production, capturing greater value added, and ensuring more stable

1 Transilvania University of Braşov, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration,

lavinia.dovleac@unitbv.ro

2 Transilvania University of Braşov, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration,

marbalasescu@yahoo.com