Análisis empresarial de las cooperativas del sector de la fruta dulce de Cataluña

Abstract

The agricultural cooperatives have been linked from the origins to fruit and vegetable sector. This sector dragged on for years a structural problem, increased, especially in the case of fruit, for serious price crisis, the market saturation and increasing competition. In this difficult context, producers must keep investing to maintain competitiveness and profitability. The cooperatives, by their economic importance, should undertake policies to ensure the viability of this sector. In this paper we do an analysis of Catalan fruit cooperative sector, to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and possible deficiencies and demands. The findings show that cooperatives are important in the fruit growing sector, mainly due to their active contribution to territory conservation and generating employment in rural area. But it is necessary to implement support measures that ensure the interests of cooperative members and the consumer’s needs.