ORGANIC DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS: ALTERNATIVES CHOSEN FOR SMALLHOLDERS FROM EASTERN OF SÃO PAULO STATE

Abstract

This paper aims to describe some market alternatives adopted by smallholders farmers on the distribution channels for organic in natura products. Fourteen smallholders farmers were interviewed using a semi structured directions. The interviewees are smallholders farmers from eastern side of Sao Paulo, geographically located between two river basins: Capivari-Piracicaba basin and Mogi Guacu. Farmers are found by "snow ball" method. It is showed that the distribution channels, so called "short channels" , are the mainly strategies used on family farming. The market fairs are the sell places which the farmers chose as the best one for their needs. The main reasons for that are the better prices they can get due to the absence3 of any middleman in the selling process and the closest approach to the consumers. The biggest challenge has been the supermarkets due to unfavorable contracts required. This study showed that is important to implement actions to enable organic agriculture and commercialization management and logistics in the distribution process of these products. Considering this, formal or informal associations for production or commercialization have showed to be more efficient and safe compared to individual work, especially as a strategy for production diversification, constancy in offer and searching for different channels.