Opportunities to Create Value and Sustainability in Strawberry Production

Oportunidades para crear valor y sostenibilidad en la producción de fresa

Strawberry is a product that, due to its nutritional characteristics, has become an accessible foodstuff for consumption; however, it is delicate and perishable. This condition complicates its transit through the supply chain, destabilizes its price in the market and makes the benefit for producers uncertain. Thus, this study shows opportunities for creating value and sustainability for small strawberry producers, considering the economic context, the supply chain, the agri-food production chain and the value chain. Thus, this study makes it possible to show the lack of awareness of agricultural producers about the entire system in which they are involved, the low articulation between actors and the limited execution of collective actions that lead to a greater benefit for producers, within a paradigm of value creation and sustainable development. Strawberry is a product that, due to its nutritional characteristics, has become an accessible foodstuff for consumption; however, it is delicate and perishable. This condition complicates its transit through the supply chain, destabilizes its price on the market and makes the benefit uncertain for producers. This research was aimed at identifying opportunities for value creation and sustainability for small strawberry growers. The study began with a literature review on the strawberry supply chain (114 papers) in scientific databases, then data from public databases were reviewed, then additional literature on the production-agri-food and value chains was explored, a field visit was made, a community workshop was held, including discussions and exchange of information with strawberry producers in a municipality in Colombia, which is known for being one of the main strawberry producers in this country of agricultural vocation. Based on the information collected, an overview (economic context) of strawberry produce in Colombia was elaborated and the production and marketing of strawberries in the municipality was characterized from three perspectives: the supply chain, the agro-food production chain and the value chain. Thus, this study reveals the lack of knowledge of agricultural producers about the entire system in which they are involved, the low articulation between actors and the limited implementation of collective actions that lead to greater benefits for producers, within a paradigm of value creation and sustainable development.