Elmar Kulke: Varieties of Refiguration of Food-Systems in Small Island Economies. [Abstract]

During the last decades the system of production, distribution, and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables faced a strong process of translocalisation. But to what extent are small island economies integrated into this process? Based on empirical investigations in 11 island states in the Pacific and in the Caribbean, this article illustrates that in these island states local products still have a dominating importance for the supply, mainly sold at stalls and in public markets. With increasing market volume and with better international connectivity, internationalised supermarkets become an important element of the retail landscape; more and more fresh fruits and vegetables are imported, and even high value air-freight products are sold. For the organisation of the supply chain, transport costs are important, but with the reduction of transport costs, transaction costs become a factor for the modern retail formats.

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