Vegetable Retail Research Articles

Vegetable Merchandise Analysis from a Quarterly Sales Data Perspective

In the field of fresh vegetable retailing, the category diversity and time-sensitive characteristics of commodities pose unique challenges to inventory management and pricing decisions. Comprehensively analyzing the distribution pattern of sales volume of different categories and individual items of vegetable commodities and their interrelationships is of great significance to retailers' scientific replenishment and pricing decisions. By categorizing vegetable sales every quarter, a comprehensive analysis is carried out on a category and individual item basis. Visualization was used to show the distribution pattern of sales volume by category and individual item. Subsequently, Kendall correlation analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between the sales volume of different vegetable categories. In addition, the interrelationships between the sales volumes of different vegetable individual items were investigated in conjunction with waterfall diagrams. Through in-depth analysis of sales data, understanding the sales relationship between different vegetable categories can help retailers develop a more refined pricing strategy, make pricing adjustments based on the relative sales of goods, and improve sales revenue and profit levels. Such scientific inventory management and pricing strategies not only help meet customer demand and enhance customer experience, but also strengthen customer loyalty and promote long-term stable business development.

Keuntungan Pedangan Pengecer Sayur Kangkung di Pasar Wilken Tomohon Kecamatan Tomohon Timur Kota Tomohon

The purpose of this study was to determine the profit of kale vegetable retailers in Wilken Tomohon Market, East Tomohon District, Tomohon City. This research was conducted for two months from June to July 2023 from the preparation stage to the preparation of research results located at Wilken Tomohon Market, East Tomohon District, Tomohon City. The data used in this research are primary data and secondary data. Primary data was obtained through interviews using a list of questions (questionnaires) to kale vegetable traders in Wilken Market, Tomohon City. Secondary data were obtained from available books, such as local books and the internet and accessing articles from various scientific journals. The sampling method was simple random sampling and a sample of 10 kale traders was taken. The research data analysis method is based on the data obtained, processed and tabulated in accordance with the results of the analysis, to test the data that has been collected in order to obtain the amount of profit, which is obtained through profit analysis. Based on the results of the study, it shows that the profit of kale vegetable retailers at Wilken Tomohon Market is obtained from total revenue of Rp1,142,000 per week less total costs of Rp703,020 per week, the profit of kale vegetable retailers is Rp438,980 per week.

Kontribusi Pendapatan Pedagang Sayur Eceran Terhadap Total Pendapatan Keluarga Di Kelurahan Oesapa Kecamatan Kelapa Lima Kota Kupang

This research aims to; 1) What is the income of vegetable retailers in Desapa Village, Kelapa Lima District, Kupang City? 2) What is the feasibility of vegetable retailer in Oesapa Village, Kelapa Lima District, Kupang City. 3) How much is the contribution? What is the share of the vegetable retail trade in the family's total income? The determination of the sample in this study was made by an overall sample, where the population was also the sample in the study, since the number of vegetable retailers encountered was not too large, while the data collection was based on a survey method. The data collection took place from May 2022 to June 2022, whereby the collected data was primary data and secondary data and then a data analysis was carried out using qualitative descriptive analysis. The variables measured are costs, revenues, income, relative profits and their contribution to the traders' family income. The results of the study show that (1) the income from running a vegetable retail business is IDR 1,401,015/month. (2) In terms of economic value, the vegetable retailer's business is economically feasible by determining the R/C ratio of 1.5. The R/C ratio of merchants selling in Oesapa village ranges from 1.25 to 1.64(3). The contribution of the vegetable retail business is 53.11%. This shows that the vegetable retail business is a household income source for the vegetable retail business traders.

The Role of Policymakers in Potential Strengthening to Improve the Safety of the Vegetable in the Supply Chain: SWOT Analysis during COVID-19

Background: Fresh vegetables can play an important role in health and food security. This study aimed to assess the safety of the vegetable supply chain in Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic by strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis.
 Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted in two phases in 2021. First, in the cross-sectional study, 192 staff were randomly selected from five major centers of vegetable retail centers. Then, semi-structured interviews were done with ten stakeholders, and a SWOT analysis was completed.
 Results: Half of the participants had desirable hygienic practices, 39.6% had acceptable, and 8.9% had weak practice scores. The practice of participants whose educational level was BSc and above was better than that of illiterates (OR =15.38, 95% CI =1.61-14.57, P=0.01). SWOT analysis results identified a poor shelf-life of vegetables, weak technology in planting, harvesting, and distributing vegetables.
 Conclusion: Policymakers can utilize the practical solutions for taking action in the potential strengthening of vegetable safety in the supply chain to improve public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chemical Characterization of Some Fruits and Vegetables Used as Substrates for the Production of Black Soldier Fly Larvae

Black soldier fly larvae feed on different organic materials. The nutritional composition of these larvae depends on the feeding substrate. The objective of this study is to determine the composition of macronutrients and micronutrients of fruits and vegetables used as substrate for the production of larvae. To do this, various fruits and vegetables were obtained from fruit and vegetable retailers of Carena in the commune of Plateau (Abidjan). These are the releases of sweet banana, watermelon, avocado, cucumber, papaya and orange. They were packed in a cooler, closed and transported to the experiment site. Samples of these fruits and vegetables were taken and chemically analyzed. It was determined metabolizable energy, the content of moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrate, cellulose, ash, minerals (potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, and magnesium) and vitamin C. The results showed that sweet banana and watermelon are rich in protein respectively 2.20% ± 0.00 and 1.93% ± 0.00. The sweet banana is also rich in ash (4.80% ± 0.00) and mineral elements such as sodium (17.35 mg ± 3.68) and magnesium (30.8 mg ± 4.40). Avocado is energetic (161 ± 1.02 kcal). It is rich in fat (43.5% ± 0.01), potassium (339 mg ± 22.3) and phosphorus (52 mg ± 3.02). Orange and papaya are rich in vitamin C respectively 70 mg ± 3.00 and 64 mg ± 2.00. Watermelon and cucumber have a high water respectively 93.91% ± 1.00 and 91.4% ± 1.01. The have also a high cellulose content respectively 11.41% ± 0.01 and 11.1% ± 0.01. This study has shown that the fruits and vegetables used are excellent substrates. They are rich in macronutrients and micronutrients useful for the growth of black soldier fly larvae.

Quality compliance of fruits and vegetables sold at street vending sites of Tshwane, South Africa

The selling of fruits and vegetables in the street is a common phenomenon in developing countries due to high levels of unemployment. In South Africa, street vending of fruits and vegetables brings valuable income to many impoverished households, thereby improving the livelihoods of people who are not formally employed. The Agricultural Product Standards Act No. 119 of 1990 of South Africa provides for the standardisation of quality norms for agricultural produce. Enforcing the Agricultural Product Standards Act is essential to ensure that agricultural produce sold in the streets is regulated and controlled so it is safe throughout the supply chain from the farm to the vending site. The purpose of this research was to investigate quality compliance of fresh fruits and vegetables sold by street vendors in the Tshwane metropolis, South Africa. A cross-sectional study survey was conducted in which stratified random sampling was used to sample 200 fresh fruit and vegetable vendors. Their knowledge of the requirements of the Agricultural Product Standards Act of South Africa was analysed. The compliance of their produce with quality regulations and the level of monitoring by authorities were also evaluated. Most respondents (89%) did not know about the Act. Only a small majority of fruit (51.5%) and vegetable (56%) retailers indicated that their agricultural products had been monitored. A large majority of fruits (86% to 99.8%) and vegetables (85.4% to 97.5%) met all the quality requirements in the Act. In general, a fair proportion of fruits (58%) and vegetables (65%) complied with the requirements of the Act. There was a significant positive correlation (p≤0.05) between monitoring by officials and the level of compliance. Only a small percentage of fresh fruits and vegetables vending sites are monitored by authorities. This paper is of interest to stakeholders in street vending of agricultural food produce because it raises awareness of areas of non-compliance and a need for effective compliance. Awareness and adequate enforcement can translate into selling and consuming agricultural high quality and safe food produce on the streets of Tshwane metropolis. Key words: agriculture, produce, fruits, vegetable, safety, quality, monitoring, inspection

Genetic diversity of enterotoxigenic Bacillus cereus strains in coriander in southwestern Mexico.

BackgroundCoriander, like other leafy green vegetables, is available all year round and is commonly consumed raw in Mexico as in other countries in the preparation of street or homemade food. Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) is a microorganism that can reach coriander because it is usually found in the soil and in some regions the vegetables are irrigated with polluted water. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determinate the presence of B. cereus in coriander used for human consumption in southwestern Mexico and determine the toxigenic profile, biofilm production, genes associated with the production of biofilms, sporulation rates, enzymatic profile, psychotropic properties, and genetic diversity of B. cereus.MethodsFresh coriander samples were collected from several vegetable retailers in different markets, microbiological analysis was performed. Molecular identification, genes related to the production of biofilm, and toxin gene profiling of B. cereus isolates were determined by PCR. The biofilm formation was measured by performing a crystal violet assay. The genetic diversity of B. cereus strains was determined by PCR of repetitive elements using oligonucleotide (GTG) 5.ResultsWe found a frequency of B. cereus in vegetables was 20% (13/65). In this study, no strains with genes for the HBL toxin were found. In the case of genes related to biofilms, the frequency was low for sipW [5.8%, (1/17)] and tasA [11.7%, (2/17)]. B. cereus strains produce a low amount of biofilm with sporulation rates around 80%. As for genetic diversity, we observed that strains isolated from the same market, but different vegetable retailers are grouped into clusters. In the coriander marketed in southwestern Mexico, were found B. cereus strains with genes associated with the production of diarrheal toxins. Together, these results show actual information about the state of art of B. cereus strains circulating in the southwestern of Mexico.

Food loss of perishable produce from farm to retail: evidence from tomato supply chains in South India

ABSTRACTBackgroundReducing food loss and waste (FLW) may narrow gaps between fruit and vegetable production and recommended intake. However, FLW estimates are inconsistent due to varying estimation methods.ObjectivesUsing multiple estimation approaches, we examined the extent and determinants of FLW along tomato supply chains in South India, from farm to retail. We also explored tomato quality assessments.MethodsWe surveyed 75 farm households and 83 tomato traders in the Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, and 52 vegetable traders and 50 vegetable retailers in Hyderabad, Telangana, on harvest and market days. We calculated declared FLW values using participant-reported losses to estimate the preharvest quality FLW and quantitative FLW values at the farmer, vegetable-trader, and vegetable-retailer stages. We calculated the destination FLW based on counted crates diverted to loss destinations, using participant-reported destinations (animal feed, field discard), to estimate the postharvest FLW from farm to retail. We used pile sorting with farmers to explore on-farm quality assessments.ResultsThe average preharvest quality FLW was 13.9% of harvested tomatoes. From farm to retail, the quantitative FLW was greatest at the postharvest, farm level. Among all harvests, the median postharvest, farm-level FLW was 0.0% (IQR, 0.0%–7.9%) using the destination FLW approach (tomatoes diverted to nonfood uses) and 2.3% (IQR, 0.0%–12.5%) using the declared FLW approach (P < 0.05). Among harvests with a non-zero postharvest, farm-level FLW, the median FLW was 9.1% (IQR, 2.4%–16.7%) using the destination FLW approach (tomatoes diverted to nonfood uses) and 10.0% (IQR, 2.9%–16.7%) using the declared FLW approach. Harvesting during peak season was a determinant of postharvest, farm-level and preauction, market-level FLW values. Farmers prioritize color/ripeness attributes while harvesting and tomato size while grading.ConclusionsSingle-point estimates may obscure FLW patterns for perishable, indeterminate crops and depend on data collection and estimation methods. Reducing FLW of perishables requires the integration of quantitative and qualitative FLW estimation methods.

A special 0-1 Knapsack problem for a small vegetable retailing system under fuzziness: a swarm optimization based approach

A special 0-1 Knapsack problem for a small vegetable retailing system under fuzziness: a swarm optimization based approach

Implications of organized retailing in horticultural crops in Punjab

The economic reforms to boost foreign direct investment in retail sector initiated in India had unfavorable consequences on the ongoing traditional system. The organized retail sector, known as super markets, is likely to make a threat on the vast traditional retail sector of India. Based on primary data collected during 2016-17 from supermarket stores, unorganized retailers and consumers of Punjab, the study revealed that volume of sales, employment and profit margin of the unorganized retailers of fruits and vegetables have decreased due to the commencement of super markets. To counter the adverse impacts of supermarkets on neighborhood fruits and vegetables markets, it is suggested that pro-active government interventions in encouraging retail cooperative system and developing sufficient infrastructure for unorganized sector would help fruits and vegetable retailers for enhancing their efficiency. It would indeed be depressing to know that traditional markets which till recently were thriving have been fading away. Hence the small retailers need to be encouraged and guided to modernize not only themselves but the entire market place as well.

Evaluating Closures of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Vendors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Methodology and Preliminary Results Using Omnidirectional Street View Imagery.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the food retail environment. However, its impact on fresh fruit and vegetable vendors remains unclear; these are often smaller, more community centered, and may lack the financial infrastructure to withstand supply and demand changes induced by such crises.ObjectiveThis study documents the methodology used to assess fresh fruit and vegetable vendor closures in New York City (NYC) following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic by using Google Street View, the new Apple Look Around database, and in-person checks.MethodsIn total, 6 NYC neighborhoods (in Manhattan and Brooklyn) were selected for analysis; these included two socioeconomically advantaged neighborhoods (Upper East Side, Park Slope), two socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods (East Harlem, Brownsville), and two Chinese ethnic neighborhoods (Chinatown, Sunset Park). For each neighborhood, Google Street View was used to virtually walk down each street and identify vendors (stores, storefronts, street vendors, or wholesalers) that were open and active in 2019 (ie, both produce and vendor personnel were present at a location). Past vendor surveillance (when available) was used to guide these virtual walks. Each identified vendor was geotagged as a Google Maps pinpoint that research assistants then physically visited. Using the “notes” feature of Google Maps as a data collection tool, notes were made on which of three categories best described each vendor: (1) open, (2) open with a more limited setup (eg, certain sections of the vendor unit that were open and active in 2019 were missing or closed during in-person checks), or (3) closed/absent.ResultsOf the 135 open vendors identified in 2019 imagery data, 35% (n=47) were absent/closed and 10% (n=13) were open with more limited setups following the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. When comparing boroughs, 35% (28/80) of vendors in Manhattan were absent/closed, as were 35% (19/55) of vendors in Brooklyn. Although Google Street View was able to provide 2019 street view imagery data for most neighborhoods, Apple Look Around was required for 2019 imagery data for some areas of Park Slope. Past surveillance data helped to identify 3 additional established vendors in Chinatown that had been missed in street view imagery. The Google Maps “notes” feature was used by multiple research assistants simultaneously to rapidly collect observational data on mobile devices.ConclusionsThe methodology employed enabled the identification of closures in the fresh fruit and vegetable retail environment and can be used to assess closures in other contexts. The use of past baseline surveillance data to aid vendor identification was valuable for identifying vendors that may have been absent or visually obstructed in the street view imagery data. Data collection using Google Maps likewise has the potential to enhance the efficiency of fieldwork in future studies.

Do Farmers’ Markets Offer Consumers an Available and Affordable Supply of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Compared to Other Retail Outlets in Australia?

ABSTRACT We investigated the cost and availability of fruit and vegetables at farmers’ markets, supermarkets and greengrocers/primarily fruit and vegetable retail outlet. Data on 43 seasonal fruit and vegetables were collected in person from 17 accredited farmers’ markets, 17 supermarkets and 16 greengrocers across 20 locations (9 rural, 11 urban). Greengrocers were found to be significantly cheaper than supermarkets (AU$4.70 (2.99, 7.99) vs AU$5.00 (3.00, 8.88) p = 0.010). Farmers’ markets had lower availability or fewer varieties of fruit and vegetables (32 (20,35) compared to greengrocers 37 (31.75, 40.5) p = 0.028). Greengrocers may be the most accessible fruit and vegetable retail outlet.

Chemical vegetable safety in China: “supermarketisation” and its limits

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the process of supermarketization in the vegetable retail sector in China and its impact on food safety.Design/methodology/approachData from food safety reports by the Chinese Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) are used to investigate the degree of vegetable safety in different value chain types. To assess the predictors of the degree of vegetable safety, a logistic regression model is applied.FindingsSupermarketization has led to the reorganization of the vegetables provision system, through closer coordination along the supply chain and the use of secured production bases. We identify four types of vegetable value chains in China based on their form of coordination. Supermarkets improve vegetable safety even when they rely on external suppliers, but also wet markets perform significantly better than other small-scale retailers in terms of vegetable safety.Originality/valueThe study has expanded the knowledge of the supermarketization in urban China by collecting data from CFDA. Furthermore, the study used the theory of food value chain to understand determinant factors in securing food safety. Moreover, this study reveals that wet markets also have prospects in solving vegetable safety problems in China, especially in underdeveloped areas.

Productivity, nutritional and functional qualities of perennial wall-rocket: Effects of pre-harvest factors

Abstract Perennial wall-rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) belongs to the Brassicaceae family. It has spread worldwide due to its functional properties, and has long been known in folk medicine of native populations in areas of the Mediterranean and western Asia. In the past, Diplotaxis tenuifolia was a herbaceous plant harvested and consumed as a spontaneous herb, but today it is an important leafy vegetable in ready-to-use salads, with an increasing impact in the national and international vegetable retail markets. The leaves of perennial wall-rocket have valuable nutritional properties because of the amounts of antioxidant compounds they contain, in particular glucosinolates, vitamin C, as well as flavonoids, which make their consumption beneficial for preventing some types of cancer and cardiovascular disease. In the current review, major pre-harvest factors of Diplotaxis tenuifolia production, such as cropping systems, fertilization, as well as water management and irrigation, are addressed with respect to crop productivity and leaf quality.

Correlates of Discordance between Perceived and Objective Distances to Local Fruit and Vegetable Retailers.

Background: Perceptions of neighbourhood attributes such as proximity of food retailers that are discordant with objective measures of the same are associated with poor health behaviours and weight gain. Factors associated with discordant perceptions are likely relevant to planning more effective interventions to improve health. Purpose: Analysis of cross-sectional relationships between individual and neighbourhood factors and overestimations of walking distances to local fruit/vegetable retailers (FVR). Methods: Perceived walking times, converted to distances, between participant residences and FVR were compared with objectively-assessed road network distances calculated with a Geographic Information System for n = 1305 adults residing in Adelaide, South Australia. Differences between perceived and objective distances were expressed as ‘overestimated’ distances and were analysed relative to perceptions consistent with objective distances. Cross-sectional associations were evaluated between individual socio-demographic, health, and area-level characteristics and overestimated distances to FVR using multilevel logistic regression. Results: Agreement between objective and perceived distances between participants’ residence and the nearest FVR was only fair (weighted kappa = 0.22). Overestimated distances to FVR were positively associated with mental well-being, and were negatively associated with household income, physical functioning, sense of community, and objective distances to greengrocers. Conclusions: Individual characteristics and features of neighbourhoods were related to overestimated distances to FVR. Sense of connectivity and shared identity may shape more accurate understandings of local resource access, and offer a focal point for tailored public health initiatives that bring people together to achieve improved health behaviour.

Crop Systems, Quality and Protection of Diplotaxis tenuifolia

Perennial wall-rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) D.C.) is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Brassicaceae with a cosmopolitan distribution. Traditionally harvested as a spontaneous herb, today it is a crop species of increasing importance after the diffusion of the ready-to-use salads in the vegetable retail markets. Besides relevance as a food crop, its consumption is prompted by consideration in the traditional medicine of several peoples in the native areas of the Mediterranean and western Asia based on recognized health beneficial effects. In fact, the leaves have notable nutritional properties related to their contents of glucosinolates and some antioxidant compounds, such as vitamin C and flavonoids, which entitle their dietary inclusion for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This paper provides an overview on aspects concerning the biology, crop management, nutritional properties, industrial processing and uses of perennial wall-rocket.

The impacts of relocating a logistics facility on last food miles – The case of Melbourne’s fruit & vegetable wholesale market

The distribution activities of fresh produce by retail and wholesale trade industries generate a large volume of freight movements in urban areas. Recently, the local government in Melbourne, Australia have relocated the fruit & vegetable wholesale market from a centrally located suburb: West Melbourne to Epping, a suburban area on the fringe of Greater Melbourne. This paper investigates the impacts of the market relocation on the freight activities for fruit and vegetable retailers and wholesalers that source fresh produce directly from the wholesale market. This study utilised a telephone questionnaire with retailers to identify their delivery schemes and evaluate the impact of the market relocation on their freight trips. The analysis of the responses indicated that the market relocation has led to a significant increase (31%) in distance travelled (VKT) by retailers compared with the former site in West Melbourne. It is estimated that this additional distance contributes 830 tonnes of CO2-e per year for all the freight trips by the retailers. Furthermore, nineteen fruit & vegetable wholesalers participated in the semi-structured interviews to evaluate the impacts of the market relocation on their freight activities with respect to additional vehicle-km and explore any changes to their freight trips. It is estimated that wholesalers have to drive on average an additional 14.1 km to distribute the fresh produce to their customers due to the market relocation. Analysis for the wholesalers revealed that the market relocation complicated their ability to sustain their customer base and geographical coverage due to the additional vehicle-km.

Are Perceived and Objective Distances to Fresh Food and Physical Activity Resources Associated with Cardiometabolic Risk?

Perceived and objective measures of neighbourhood features have shown limited correspondence. Few studies have examined whether discordance between objective measures and individual perceptions of neighbourhood environments relates to individual health. Individuals with mismatched perceptions may benefit from initiatives to improve understandings of resource availability. This study utilised data from n = 1491 adult participants in a biomedical cohort to evaluate cross-sectional associations between measures of access (perceived, objective, and perceived-objective mismatch) to fruit and vegetable retailers (FVR) and public open space (POS), and clinically-measured metabolic syndrome and its component risk factors: central obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and pre-diabetes/diabetes. Access measures included perceived distances from home to the nearest FVR and POS, corresponding objectively-assessed road network distances, and the discordance between perceived and objective distances (overestimated (i.e., mismatched) distances versus matched perceived-objective distances). Individual and neighbourhood measures were spatially joined using a geographic information system. Associations were evaluated using multilevel logistic regression, accounting for individual and area-level covariates. Hypertension was positively associated with perceived distances to FVR (odds ratio (OR) = 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02, 1.28) and POS (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.34), after accounting for covariates and objective distances. Hypertension was positively associated with overestimating distances to FVR (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.80). Overestimating distances to POS was positively associated with both hypertension (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.11, 1.83) and dyslipidaemia (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.00, 1.57). Results provide new evidence for specific associations between perceived and overestimated distances from home to nearby resources and cardiometabolic risk factors.

A study on sources of vegetable supply chain wastage with specific reference to retail outlets in Tamil Nadu

In spite of being the second largest overall producer of vegetables, India is wasting around one third of its output due to various reasons. Another study identified the wastages at different distribution stages of vegetable supply chain from farm gate to retail end and discovered that the retailing stage was realising maximum wastages. Value loss could become very high for farmers, retailers and consumers if vegetable retailers realised more wastage. Hence this study attempted to determining causes of wastages at vegetable retail stores by analysing its distribution chain from farm gate. This study was conducted in four locations of Tamilnadu such as Chennai, Dindugul, Coimbatore and sub-urban areas of Chennai. This study identified major sources of wastages in vegetable retail stores and their root causes viz., long travel distances, lack of labour, poor packing methods, damage due to handling during cleaning, sorting and grading as significant sources of wastages.

A study on sources of vegetable supply chain wastage with specific reference to retail outlets in Tamil Nadu

In spite of being the second largest overall producer of vegetables, India is wasting around one third of its output due to various reasons. Another study identified the wastages at different distribution stages of vegetable supply chain from farm gate to retail end and discovered that the retailing stage was realising maximum wastages. Value loss could become very high for farmers, retailers and consumers if vegetable retailers realised more wastage. Hence this study attempted to determining causes of wastages at vegetable retail stores by analysing its distribution chain from farm gate. This study was conducted in four locations of Tamilnadu such as Chennai, Dindugul, Coimbatore and sub-urban areas of Chennai. This study identified major sources of wastages in vegetable retail stores and their root causes viz., long travel distances, lack of labour, poor packing methods, damage due to handling during cleaning, sorting and grading as significant sources of wastages.