SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FRESH AGRI-FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN – Case study about fruit and vegetables market from Romania

Abstract

Fruits and vegetables have a high importance from two points of view: for the consumer it represents a healthy and nutritious food and for the national economy it represents a key sector that gives added value to the agricultural sector. The importance of the paper comes from the dominant position of the fruit and vegetable in agriculture, but also their need to be consumed daily, so a comprehensive statistical analysis was performed to identify the evolution and main qualitative aspects that describe the state of this market. The purpose of the paper is to determine the level of the fruit and vegetable market, both in quantitative and value terms. The study focuses on the available quantities that address to human consumption, to which are added the imports necessary to cover the constant needs of consumers throughout the year, considering the seasonal aspect of Romanian agriculture. The applicative part of the paper involves a statistical analysis to determine the evolution and size of fruit and vegetable categories on the Romanian and international agricultural trade. The main conclusions aim that the sector is characterized by volatility, production and price fluctuate, and supply stability is achieved through imports that have increased annually