In the 1980s, it was believed that small-scale producing districts had advantage over large-scale districts in delivering high-quality fruit preferred by consumers. However, in the current Japanese food system, the buying power of mass-merchandising stores is stronger than it was several years ago, and these stores strengthen their association with large-scale producing districts, severely affecting the small-scale districts. The aim of this paper is to outline a strategy for small-scale apple producers by using the results of research carried out for Iwate Chuou Farmers' Cooperative. The restructuring of cooperative sales strategy was possible by introducing the technology required to reduce the use of chemicals and fertilizers. Iwate Chuou used a strategy to deal with retailer for the sale of apples. A retailer is a partner associated with Iwate Chuou, and needs to acquire the product in order to survive the competition with other retailers. Thus, the relations between the producer and the retailer strengthens and the prices of the apples produced by Iwate Chuou's improve. It can be concluded that this cooperative sales strategy is different from the previously applied strategies.

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The number of food trade disputes is increasing as countries are enforcing more stringent food safety measures. Since the WTO started in 1995, many of the traditional trade barriers such as tariff have been abolished. Instead, other protection regulations, such as non-tariff barriers, are increasing and becoming much complex. Now it is questioned whether food safety improvement is compatible with food trade expanding. This study examines two food trade disputes over beef safety under the WTO: the EU ban on U.S. hormone beef and the Japan-U.S. conflict over BSE beef. The paper analyzes the arguments and resolution process of the two cases and identifies problems of the system ensuring food safety improvement is compatible with food trade expanding. Findings suggest that classification of the causes and the resolution process of food safety-related trade dispute, analysis of the role & characteristics of SPS agreement, highlighting the arguments of the Beef Hormones dispute through scrutinizing the WTO dispute panel & Appellate Body reports along with the arguments and process of the Japan-US dispute over BSE beef in relation to the SPS agreement & OIE code, and clarifying remaining or unsolved problems in the WTO from the viewpoint of food safety and food trade are key.

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The purpose of this report is to refer to the New System Enforcement Plan aimed at elasticizing commission charges by Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the 8th Wholesale Development Basic Outline while identifying relevant issues. The conclusions follow: First, it is quite likely that the increasing negotiation power of suppliers and customers will lead to a decrease in wholesalers' commission rate. In these days of low profitability, the reduction in commission will naturally place wholesalers in greater trouble as they hinge on consignment sale for their revenue. Second, although the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Plan states "assure sound operations of wholesalers", its contents cannot help resulting in "promoting reorganization of wholesale markets". Hence, this Plan appears to be unfavorable for wholesalers.

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This paper clarifies the form and the features of the scallop marketing channel. The feature of scallop circulation system is that both home brokers as well as general marine products brokers exist. Distribution of scallop products includes two stages: that of the consuming region market as well as that of the home market. Those who buy at the home market in effect buy the scallop from the fishery prefectural cooperative through the home brokers, and are selling over to the consumer base market and the food company. The field investigation clarifies the features and functions of the home brokers.

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This study took as a case study Higashi-Katsushika located in Chiba Prefecture, a horticultural region in a suburban area of a large city, to identify the distribution environment concerning direct shipment used by individual farmers and to investigate factors for the selection of points of distribution. The study revealed a tendency for individual farmers - those who are opposed to having their products assessed with that of other producers, as well as those who will not conform to the selection criterion of agricultural cooperatives - to opt for direct shipment instead of going through the shipment by agricultural cooperative. In addition to the above, the study also revealed that market prices, transportation time and cost, handling time, routine collection of goods and the relationship with the market representative were all contributing factors to the selection of distribution points among producers.

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This paper analyzed the cause of scale expansion and functions change of apple merchants in the distribution of farm products in China, based on an investigation result obtained in Shandong province. This paper concludes that due to the development of year-round sales of apples and an increasing number of large purchasing groups, the merchants expanded their business scale to adapt to these changes in apple distribution. Further, after the scale expansion, the merchants gradually break away from being the purchasing agent and place emphasis on refrigeration service and sale business.

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