Circuitos cortos de comercialización frutícola en Bulán, en el contexto del Covid-19 (2019-2023)

Abstract

For over seventy years, the residents of Bulán in cantón Paute have been worked on fruit production and trade. By 2023, this activity remains one of the main sources of employment and income for the population. However, during 2020, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, several health measures were established by governmental authorities, including mobility restrictions and limitations on gatherings. These restrictions resulted in economic losses and challenges for production, as well as difficulties in the transportation and commercialization of products. This situation led to modifications and reconstructions in fruit production and trade practices. This research analyzes how fruit production processes and short supply chains (SSCs) evolved in Bulán from 2019 to 2023. To achieve this objective, a qualitative research methodology was employed. It based on participant observation, bibliographic review, interviews, and collective mapping with the participation of Bulán's fruit growers. Among the most relevant results are the changes and the consolidation of new production trends and new commercial spaces in Bulán's fruit-growing activity.