In the context of the frozen food (processed food) distribution system with mass food market companies at the tail end, this paper identifies, in the wake of the 2011 earthquake disaster, what information influenced individual players' actions and what caused product shortages, while pointing out the problems associated with the distribution system. Through analysis of interviews with sampled companies, the materials provided by individual food companies and the financial statements provided by a leading frozen food manufacturer, the following points were revealed. First, in the distribution system where the sample companies belong at the tail end, information was transmitted along the value chain: i.e., raw material supplier (including non food material) → food manufacturer → middle-sized food wholesaler → mass feeding companies → agencies (in some cases) → food consumer. Second, the cause for the disaster-induced stock-out was multifold, consisting of seven conjoining factors, some of which are not directly related with manufacturing: damage to production facility, logistics, gasoline supply, electricity outage, planned outage, shortage of raw materials, and shortage of packing materials. Third, the existing distribution system remained to possess part of its capability of covering the mass feeding market in the metropolitan area comprehensively when the disaster took place. On the other hand however, food manufacturers incurred substantial damage, which indicates their fragility and constitutes the problems with the distribution system. In a bid to alleviate these problems, this paper suggests formation of upstream value chains, rather than the current concentration in a particular region (or multiple regions) and on a material-by-material basis.

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Distribution of vegetables in China is becoming a larger scale business with a wide area of operation. The enlarged scale of specialized wholesale suppliers is leading these distribution changes. Previous research focused mainly on the processes of wholesalers' formation and their role in the supply chain, but their product procurement mechanisms in the consumer wholesale market and the reasons of the change in the procurement processes have not been elucidated yet. Therefore, this study clarifies the influence of the wholesalers' scale expansion exerted on the vegetables procurement processes. The study region is Hohhot City, a relatively unsuitable location regarding the climate conditions for the vegetable production. The city is located in the inland part of the country where the majority of the vegetable consumption has been procured traditionally from the coastal parts of the country year around. The analysis reveals that the wholesaler's scale expansion occurs so that the types of the handled vegetables are being polarized through either unification (reduction of the number of the types of the supplied vegetables) or diversification to reduce or to prevent loss. In addition, the vegetable procurement location becomes more remote to meet the expanded demand due to the wholesaler's own scale expansion. Shipment is switched from shipment of vegetables from vegetable production areas surrounding to the wholesale market, to shipment from the large-scale coastal vegetable production areas which can supply vegetables around a year, or from the distributing centers in Beijing metropolis city area, where all kinds of shipment modes are available at the national level. In other words, the inland area's vegetable distribution structure is changed from the distribution of vegetables from the regions they have been originally produced to the distribution of vegetables outside of the region from the larger cities and coastal areas.

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Despite the fact that exports of domestically produced vegetables (fresh, frozen, and dried) ended up as low as 3,060 million yen in 2009 (down 22.4 percent compared with the previous year), Kawakami Village, Nagano Prefecture, has been doing notably well in lettuces exports to Taiwan and Hong Kong. The lettuce exports, direct from the village to Taiwan since 2006, are a result of a direct deal with Taiwanese traders, bypassing domestic wholesalers and with the village playing the central role in the business activities. Taking advantage of lower distribution costs and a good grasp of the consumer needs in the importing countries, the amount of exports is steadily on the rise. Meanwhile, as the producer's dependence on the government and the scale of business grow, it is pointed out the government is faced with the challenge of leading economic activities. More clarity is called for in sharing roles of the export business between the village and the three agricultural corporative as a producer there.

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This paper clarifies the factors for formulating and obstructing the collaboration between regional agriculture, commerce, and industry in the farmers' market. We study the details of two different farmers' market located in Kanto Region. Based on a comparative analysis, we found that there are three factors for formulating the farmers' market characterized by the collaboration between regional agriculture, commerce, and industry. The first factor is the consensus building that comes with the crisis of the regional society and economy between the agricultural cooperative, the association of commerce and industry, and the local government. The second factor is the anticipant activities of the product and channel development for the local foods by small groups. The third factor is the regional organization for the rural development. On the other hand, the lack of the communication between the board and the shipper members and the undemocratic operation in the farmers' market represent an obstacle factor as well.

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This study reveals the influence the producing center exerts on the supply of material during a change in the supply-demand situation for green tea. The source of green tea in Kochi Prefecture is almost in mountainous areas. Therefore, production is limited to higher rank green teas on the basis of climatic and geographic conditions. But there is no custom of drinking higher rank green tea in the area. Further, the sale place of higher rank green tea is also limited. Therefore, the green tea of Kochi Prefecture is largely shipped out of the production area through distribution center. But recently, the demand for Kagoshima Prefecture green tea that is low-price and higher rank is increasing in the distribution center, with the effect that the demand for Kochi Prefecture green tea is decreasing. Considering the condition of the source of green tea in Kochi Prefecture, a system of mass production and low-price is impossible. Therefore, Kochi Prefecture green tea should specialize in production of high quality green tea, for which it is possible to sell at a high price even in small quantities. And even if it is high-priced, it should use a sales system through which it is possible to take it directly in consumer's hand.

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The characteristics of customers of fruit farmers market located in tourist areas were analyzed by the case study of T farmers market in the southern part of the Shima Peninsula. The customers of T farmers market can be divided into two types. One is the customer group that largely lives near the market and comes expressly for the local products. The other is the group that stops in the market while engaged in other activities such as sightseeing. Although both are almost the same numerically, the ratio to sales amount is larger in the former type. The ratio of large-volume buyers, who occupied a large part of the total sales, was very low in the later type. Therefore customers group who mainly live near the market and come expressly is most important buyers for farmers market even located in tourist site.

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