Trade and logistics: the fruit and vegetables industry

The international market for fruits and vegetables was one of the first to enter in agribusiness globalization. The reduction of trade barriers , shipping costs and travel time, as improved storage methods of perishable products and investment in specialized terminals in ports led to a spectacular growth of trade in fresh fruits and vegetables since the late twentieth century. Overall, the Mediterranean is one of the main areas of trade in fruits and vegetables. Twenty- two riparian countries represent in value about 23% of world trade in fresh vegetables and 25 % of the fresh fruit. The European Union and some of its member states ( France , Spain, Italy ) are producers and major players in the international trade of fruits and vegetables. Exports of fruits and vegetables from Mediterranean countries such as Egypt , Morocco and Turkey have tended to increase since the beginning of the twenty-first century. However, we must realize that these trade flows of fresh diversify. For help finding new opportunities , the Mediterranean countries have been able to improve their logistics systems that enable new markets . Efficient logistics is now essential for the organization and the competitiveness of fruit and vegetables face in a retail market that requires more work on the basis of a system stream. Thinning of trade in fruit and vegetables, through the logistics business and platforms redistribution of goods, but also the various transport systems play a major role in the geo-economic competition on the international market more increasingly competitive.