Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporting Supply Chain

Description

Super de Boer (a Dutch retailer) and Oxfam Novib have a partnership aimed at improving social standards in existing large volume supply chains of products from developing countries, in collaboration with the current trader/supplier. One of the most relevant product categories is fresh fruit and vegetables category. The Greenery, the largest wholesaler and importer of fruits and vegetables in the Netherlands, supplies Super de Boer. Jointly an introduction-training about social standards and social auditing has been organized in Egypt in May 2008.

A pilot project has been identified to look into all supplies from one important country, Egypt (resulting from a long list and selection process that also included South-Africa and Chile, countries that will be relevant for later applying the learning from the pilot in Egypt).

The Greenery has at least 3 structural suppliers in Egypt. Before Oxfam directly approaches these companies, a broader background study about the situation for small farmers and workers in the sector (fruit and vegetables) in general and more specifically in the export sector, is needed to allow for a well-prepared approach. Other interventions as a follow-up to this study by the contractors and identified stakeholders are of course possible but will need to be identified yet.

To conduct desk research and to supervise a field study in Egypt’s FFV sector Oxfam Novib has approached SOMO (The Centre for research on Multinational Corporations), an organisation with a long experience in sustainability studies in global supply chains in a range of sectors. SOMO sub-contracted NSCE to conduct the field work in different governorates in Egypt through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions with farmers, workers in exporting companies and different other stakeholders along the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporting Supply Chain.

The final report of the assignment will be discussed in a validation meeting to be attended by different governmental agencies and exporting companies’ representatives.

Services

• Desk research
• Field work in different governorates in Egypt through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions with farmers, workers in exporting companies and different other stakeholders along the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporting Supply Chain.
• Final report of the assignment
• Validation meeting to be attended by different governmental agencies and exporting companies’ representatives.