Commercialization of organic products: the case of farmers linked to the Central of Associations of Organic Farmers of the South of Minas (OSM)

Abstract

Agribusiness is a commodity-producing model, which creates disconnections between producers and consumers and deepens inequalities in the countryside, being Agroecology with participative certification and commercialization through alternative food networks, relevant options for the family farmer. Commercialization that shortens the distances between producers and consumers must be analyzed according to the geographical context of these actors. In this sense, the main objective of the article is to understand how the marketing circuits of organic farmers linked to the Central of Associations of Organic Farmers of the South of Minas (OSM) are organized and whether they enable an alternative of production and sale of organic products in the capitalist mode of production. The research had a qualitative approach and observation, maps and semi-structured interviews were used to analyze these circuits. It was found that most products are demanded by large consumer centers and the local market is only complementary in the interviewees' sales. More important than selling on local short circuits is the collective organization and diversification of the food supply chain, with intermediaries that fairly value organic production.