| Summary: | There has been transformation of the food retail sector in the last 20 years, accompanied by multi-nationalization of the supermarket sector itself. This has driven changes in the organization of procurement systems of supermarket chains, toward specialized wholesalers, and tough private quality and safety standards.
The debates on the supermarket revolution and its impact on small farmers take place in literature. One group authors defences that modern supply chains lead to the exclusion of small farmers because to meet requirements of supermarkets is hardest for them. Modern supply chains comprise the production and trade of high-value produce, usually destined for export to high-income markets or for supermarket retail. Despite that, some authors imply that there is not such a threat for small farmers.
In this context, this paper aims to examine the relationship between buyer and supplier and reveal the structural and behavioural stresses of modern supply chain in pear supply chain in Bursa (Gürsu). There are two research questions: 1) Are small farmers excluded from modern supply chains? 2) Are there differences between farmers in modern and traditional supply chains?
This paper used data collected from interviews were conducted with buyers and suppliers in fresh fruit and vegetable supply chains. Furthermore, survey was conducted with farmers in Bursa (Gürsu) to understand the characteristics of the pear supply chain.
The study has concluded that there is a dual structure which is working side by side and intertwined traditional and modern supply chain. Besides of that the other important result is that small farmers are not excluded from the modern supply chain and there are no differences between farmers in modern and traditional supply chain.
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