The Key Role of Producer Organizations and Intermediate Distributors in Thailand’s Mango Distribution System

This study aims to revisit the claim of the “supermarket revolution theory” that modern retail formats leverage commercial standards, such as Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), to govern the production and distribution of fresh produce in developing countries. Using mangoes for export in Thailand as a case study, an empirical analysis was conducted focusing on the actual situation of GAP certification in Thailand and the role of producer organizations in mango distribution. The results revealed that the GAP certification system has not been thoroughly implemented. Even small-scale farmers who are not GAP-certified avoid this problem by organizing, and producer organizations play an important role in intermediate distribution. Conversely, large retailers and exporters also rely on the intermediate distribution function of producer organizations to source mangoes. In other words, Thailand’s mango production and distribution system, rather than being a “preferred-supplier system” led by large retailers, has a complementary relationship between the suppliers and retailers.