The social roles of wholesale markets dealing in fruit and vegetables in Japan

Abstract

　In the Japan fruit and vegetable distribution system, the wholesale markets play very important social roles, which have a share of more than 60% share in the fruit and vegetable market. However, many people do not understand the roles of the wholesale markets, but also have bad images on the contrary.

　For example, many people believe that a wholesale market between producers and consumers increases the cost of distribution. However, the idea is not correct. The distribution cost often shrinks by the intermediary of a wholesale market.

　In this paper, the social roles of a Japanese wholesale market will be explained, and the direction of the change in the wholesale market distribution system in the future will be indicated.