Perceived quality framework in Mediterranean clusters: analyzing the functioning, the conditions, the strategies and the performances of fruit and vegetables short food supply chain
Abstract
This article presents a theoretical model developed for the analysis of supply chain systems of fruit and vegetables in the Mediterranean Clusters, according to MED-LINKS project, including the drivers determining their organisational characteristics, the internal relationships and dynamics, and the related performance. The analysis targets the clusters of firms that represent the structural components of Short Food Supply Chain system (SFSCs). Clusters of fruit and vegetables production in the Mediterranean partner countries are defined and delimited at geographical and economic level. The theoretical model identifies an inventory of selected reference indicators that will subsequently be needed to assess the supply chain systems' external and multidimensional drivers, strategical choices and competitiveness. Our theoretical model allowed the identification of four fruit and vegetable production clusters in the Mediterranean partner countries according to the SFSCs, that allowed us to do the exploration of an inventory of cluster-relevant reference indicators at the level of the four countries. This empirical study was analyzed to measure and assess the degree of importance of relevant indicators related to external and multidimensional factors (economic, environmental, rules, behavioral attitude), strategic choices and supply chain performance of clusters in the Mediterranean area. The survey carried out by questionnaire among the experts interviewed also made it possible to raise, for certain clusters, other proposals for variables likely to impact the performance of the said clusters.
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