Title: The reality and prospect of fresh agricultural product supply chains in China

Authors: Huaming Zhou; Qiao Ding; James Otto

Addresses: Business School, Soochow University, 215021, China ' Business School, Soochow University, 215021, China ' College of Business and Economics, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA

Abstract: In China, the supply and distribution of fresh agricultural products (FAP) can significantly impact the people that depend upon them daily. Weaknesses in Chinese FAP supply chains, combined with the increased consumption of these products, have challenged the production, logistics, management and surveillance of FAP. This paper provides an overview of the status of the current Chinese FAP supply chains and compares the primary models of FAP supply chains. Based on the actual Chinese FAP supply chains, this paper examines consumers, producers, information technology, and food miles to analyse the development of Chinese FAP supply chains, and predicts the future direction of local FAP supply chains.

Keywords: supply chain management; SCM; local supply chains; food miles; fresh agricultural products; FAP; applied management; China; fresh food supply chains; consumers; producers; information technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAMS.2013.055426

International Journal of Applied Management Science, 2013 Vol.5 No.3, pp.251 - 264

Published online: 30 Jan 2014 *

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