ABSTRACT

Satisfying the ever-demanding tastes of global consumers has led supermarkets and department stores to source products from farms and factories scattered across the globe. Today global supply chains carrying fresh products (such as cut flowers and fresh vegetables) and processed ones (such as garments and tea) are a defining characteristic of production spaces, particularly in countries in the majority world where such chains provide important opportunities and where certain sectors (eg tea in kenya) have benefited from integration in global supply chains that link European consumers with majority world workers and farmers. These sectors are not only the leading foreign exchange earners but also provide substantial employment opportunities for the millions of people.