The Role of Contracts in the Organic Supply Chain: 2004 and 2007

• 查看报告

英文名称：

The Role of Contracts in the Organic Supply Chain: 2004 and 2007

作者：

Carolyn Dimitri; Lydia Oberholtzer; Michelle Wittenberger

工作单位：

USDA's Economic Research Service

来源地址：

https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=44506

关键词：

Organic supply chain;  contracts;  organic marketing;  organic procurement;  intermediaries;  certified organic handlers;  contract design;  certified organic; 

年份：

2010

出版地：

Washington, DC, USA

总页数：

45 pp

语种：

English

摘要：

Organic food products are excellent candidates for contract production and marketing because they are produced using a distinct process and are in high demand. This report summarizes survey data on contracting in the organic sector, addressing the extent of contracting, the rationale for using contracts, and contract design for select commodities. The central survey data were collected from certified organic handlers (intermediaries) in the United States who marketed and procured organic products in 2004 and 2007. Contracting is widespread in the organic sector, and, in 2007, firms used contracts most frequently to secure organic products essential to their business and to source products in short supply. Large firms were more likely to use contracts for procurement, and these firms contracted for a larger share of their procurement needs. Nearly all contracts required suppliers to provide evidence of organic certification. Firms using contracts rarely assisted suppliers with obtaining organic certification or the transition to organic. Most contracts include provisions regarding quality, and quality verification was an essential component of these contracts. Prices were determined in a variety of ways and, in some cases, depended on delivered quality.