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Producer Relationships and Local Development in Fresh Fruit Commodity Chains: An Analysis of Blueberry Production in Entre Ríos, Argentina

2011; Routledge; Volume: 46; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/00343404.2011.573779

1360-0591

Clara Craviotti,

Wine Industry and Tourism

Abstract Craviotti C. Producer relationships and local development in fresh fruit commodity chains: an analysis of blueberry production in Entre Ríos, Argentina, Regional Studies. In current regional perspectives intangible capitals are considered critical assets of regional economies. The aim of this article is to analyse the role of networks in the development of blueberry production in the province of Entre Ríos, nowadays the most important productive area of Argentina. It argues that although horizontal networks (either private or public–private) were not particularly important for the emergence of blueberry production in the area, they are needed in a situation where a redefinition of the agri-food chain is at stake. Coordination and cooperation networks could help to sustain the continuity of production at the local level and to make local small-scale producers viable in a global context. Craviotti C. 鲜果生产商业链中的生产商关系以及地方发展:针对阿根廷蓝莓生产进行的分析,区域研究。在目前的区域研究中,无形资产被认为是区域经济的关键资产。本文分析了目前阿根廷最重要的生产地恩特雷里奥斯蓝莓生产发展中网络所发挥的作用。文章认为,尽管水平网络(私人或公私网络)对于该地区蓝莓生产的出现而言不是非常重要,但在特定的情况下,比如就农业食物链的再定义而言,网络是需要的。协作与合作网络有助于维系地方层面的持续生产同时可以将地方层面小尺度的生产商带入全球背景。 地方发展过程 全球商业链 鲜果出口 反季节生产 Craviotti C. Les rapports des producteurs et le développement local dans les chaînes de fruits frais: une analyse de la production de myrtilles dans l'Entre Ríos, en Argentine, Argentina, Regional Studies. Dans une optique régionale actuelle, les capitaux intangibles sont considérés des actifs essentielles des économies régionales. Cet article cherche à analyser le rôle des réseaux dans le développement de la production de myrtilles dans le province d'Entre Ríos, actuellement la zone de production la plus importante en Argentine. On affirme que les réseaux horizontaux (à la fois privés ou publics-privés) sont nécessaires dans des situations où une redéfinition de la chaîne agroalimentaire est en jeu, bien qu'ils ne soient pas particulièrement importants quant à la naissance de la production de myrtilles dans la zone. Des réseaux de coordination et de coopération pourraient aider la pérennité de la production au niveau local et rendre viables les producteurs à petite échelle sur le plan mondial. Processus de développement local Chaînes mondiales de valeur Exportations de fruits frais Production contracyclique Craviotti C. Produzentenbeziehungen und lokale Entwicklung in Frischobst-Warenketten: eine Analyse der Heidelbeerproduktion in Entre Ríos, Argentinien, Regional Studies. Unter den derzeitigen regionalen Perspektiven gelten immaterielle Vermögenswerte als wichtiges Kapital von regionalen Wirtschaften. In diesem Artikel wird die Rolle von Netzwerken bei der Entwicklung der Heidelbeerproduktion in der Provinz Entre Ríos untersucht, dem heute wichtigsten Produktionsgebiet Argentiniens. Es wird argumentiert, dass horizontale (private oder öffentlich-private) Netzwerke für das Entstehen der Heidelbeerproduktion in dieser Region zwar keine besondere Rolle spielten, aber in einer Situation benötigt werden, in der eine Neudefinition der landwirtschaftlichen Lebensmittellieferkette auf dem Spiel steht. Netzwerke zur Koordination und Kooperation könnten dazu beitragen, die Kontinuität der Produktion auf lokaler Ebene aufrechtzuerhalten und lokale Kleinproduzenten auf globaler Ebene wettbewerbsfähig zu machen. Lokale Entwicklungsprozesse Globale Warenketten Frischobstexporte Produktion außerhalb des Saison Craviotti C. Víncolos entre productores y desarrollo local en las cadenas globales de frutas frescas: un análisis de la producción de arándano en Entre Ríos, Argentina, Regional Studies. En las perspectivas contemporáneas de la ciencia regional, los capitales intangibles son considerados activos críticos de las economías locales. El propósito de este artículo es analizar el rol de las redes en el desarrollo de la producción de arándano en la provincia de Entre Ríos, actualmente el área productiva más importante de Argentina. Se argumenta que si bien las redes de tipo horizontal (tanto privadas como público-privadas) no fueron especialmente relevantes para el surgimiento de esta producción en el área, son requeridas en una situación en la que está en juego la redefinición de la cadena agroalimentaria. Las redes de cooperación y coordinación pueden contribuir a sostener la continuidad de esta producción a nivel local y la viabilidad de los productores en pequeña escala en el contexto global. Procesos de desarrollo local Cadenas globales de productos básicos Exportaciones de frutas frescas Producciones de contratemporada Keywords: Local development processesGlobal commodity chainsFresh fruit exportsCounter-seasonal productionJEL classifications: R11R58Q13 Acknowledgements The author would like to thank Douglas Constance for his comments on an early version of this paper, as well as the Editors and three anonymous reviewers for suggestions and comments that strengthened the article. The author would also like to thank the work of Daniel Coleman and Gabriel Jerozolimski in making improvements to the language. The usual disclaimers apply. Notes In scale-dualistic contexts, the latter explains why companies tend to source from larger farmers and eschew smaller ones. However, there are exceptions to this pattern: companies source from small farmers where they dominate the agrarian structure and have non-land assets that make them able to respond to their requirements; sometimes 'resource-provision contracts' are developed to address these constraints. Moreover, sourcing from small farmers may be preferred by companies because they regard them as less risky than larger farmers and more able to perform intense and careful field practices (Reardon et al., 2009 Reardon, T., Barrett, C., Berdegue, J. and Swinnen, J. 2009. Agri-food industry transformation and small farmers in developing countries. World Development, 37(11): 1717–1727. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). This approach includes not only market relations between economic units, but also the informal relationships between agents and the links established with different types of institutions – such as research institutes, universities and private entities that support production – which allow the creation and diffusion of knowledge. In fact heterogeneity is not intrinsically bad, as it contributes to introduce new ideas and opportunities, but it requires a major investment in building trust among diverse actors. Research projects PIP 5070 – funded by the National Council of Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET) – and PICT 1320 – funded by the National Agency of Scientific and Technological Promotion (ANPCyT) – of Argentina. The level of investment required by this export-oriented production can be shown through different indicators. The costs of implanting 1 hectare of blueberry in the province of Entre Ríos have been estimated by key informants as being between US$15 000 and US$35 000, depending on the technology applied. Seedlings impact heavily in costs because of their high price and high density per hectare (3300 or more); some are patented varieties, which make them more expensive. Other investments required are drip irrigation systems and frost protection measures. Moreover, the types of soils of the province of Entre Ríos recommend tracing level curves to prevent water erosion. According to the Argentine Chamber of Producers of Blueberries and Other Berries (CAPAB), only 21% of producers are farmers of origin. Because fresh blueberries cannot be washed or sanitized, third-party certification focuses on good hygiene practices and the appropriate use of pesticides. This includes the availability and use of toilet facilities and hand sanitizers for pickers, and following written cleaning procedures for picking equipment and machinery. Water quality is also an important issue because growers irrigate with water from a range of sources such as ponds and wells. Care must be taken to ensure that they do not present a microbial hazard (Bain and Busch, 2004 Bain, C. and Busch, L. 2004. Standards and Strategies in the Michigan Blueberry Industry, Research Report Number 585. Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station – Michigan State University, West Lansing, MI [Google Scholar]). The presence of these networks did not exclude isolated cooperation with smaller producers (such as machinery or inputs loans), enabled by the manager or technical advisor of these big farms, who, unlike their owners, frequently has a local background. The harvest usually lasts from two to three months, falling to one month in 2008. It is estimated that only in Entre Ríos about 3000 tons were not harvested – from 25% to 80% of production, according to the grower interviewed. Also, about 7000 temporary workers lost their jobs, representing 12% of the economically active population of the area; some of these workers were migrants and had to return to their places of origin. The type of contract in effect (either formal or informal) implies that the export company does not buy the product, but provides the marketing services to the producer and deduces the selling expenses from the prices obtained. The evolution of the arrangements between producers and marketing companies has also been verified in other counter-seasonal 'mature' productions, as is the case of Chilean grapes. Funding provided by the export firms was crucial for the development of smallholder agriculture in the 1980s, and many producers were incorporated into the system. However, the subsequent reduction in the value of the exported fruit led to the restructuring of companies and a significant increase in the rigor of contractual terms with producers. Consequently, concentration at the farm level increased (Murray, 1999 Murray, W. E. 1999. La globalización de la fruta, los cambios locales y el desigual desarrollo rural en América Latina: un análisis crítico del complejo de exportación de fruta chilena. EURE, 25(75): 77–102. [Google Scholar]). As a key informant of the local government stressed, 'Citrus in our region began in 1896 and we carry with 114 years in it. Supportive organizational structures began after 80 years of production. Blueberry is in its infancy.' Efforts in this direction were oriented to take advantage of unemployed workers, mainly women, who were beneficiaries of government subsidies. At the request of producers, the Municipality of Concordia and the provincial Ministry of Labour carried forward the actions that led to an agreement allowing workers employed during the harvest to keep their rights to these benefits during the rest of the year. The use of this staff also meant a reduction in the amount of social contributions paid by producers. The local government also launched activities aimed at strengthening the registration of potential workers, and supported the training activities carried out with the technical support of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) (Craviotti and Cattaneo, 2006 Craviotti C. and Cattaneo C. (2006) Acerca de la regulación territorial de 'nuevas' actividades productivas: el caso del arándano en Entre Ríos, Argentina. Paper presented at the Sexta Bienal del Coloquio de Transformaciones Territoriales, Santa Fe, Argentina, 15–17 November 2006. [Google Scholar]).