12. Smallholders in agro-industrial value chains Flashcards
How do changing consumer patterns in developed countries affect smallholders in developing countries?
Fold & Gough (2008) give the example of changing consumer preferences in the EU when it comes to pineapples. Basically EU was importing one type of pineapple mainly from Ghana, but in the 90s the big corporations started advertising a new type of pineapple “gold extra sweet” - a type growing in Costa Rica. Basically US and EU then started importing from Costa Rica which left smallholders in Ghana without their livelihoods. Their solution was to enter the global market again as niche, organic/fair trade products - which is very messy and essentially leaves smallholders marginalized or excluded.
What is “relationship coffee”?
A form of upgrading in the coffee GVC as a result of increased consumption of specialty coffee. As consumers become more aware, ‘relationship coffee’ is marketed to them as directly procured through a direct relationship with roasters, involving personal interaction, mutual trust, price transparency, and commitment to quality improvement.
