A research on the compliance with the GLOBALGAP (EUREPGAP) criteria in terms of production and export of some important fruits in a selected area in aegean region

In this research, the socio-economic and the structural characteristics of the cherry, table grape and peach farmers and the general characteristics of the firms that export these products were investigated. The applicability of the GLOBALGAP (EUREGAP) protocol has been put forth at the level of producers and exporter firms. Further, the factors affecting the producer's adaptation of GLOBALGAP certified production system and their fulfilment level of the GLOBALGAP criteria have also been investigated. The data were collected from 38 firms, exporting cherry, table grape and peach in Aegean Region, which have been determined by complete enumeration method, and from 122 producers of which 41 certified and 81 non-certified, which have been determined by using the stratified sampling method. Based on the examinations, the gross profits per decare in certified farms have been determined as 1311.59 ₺ for cherry, 1726.84 ₺ for table grape and 1751.39 ₺ for peach, such profit per decare has been determined as 977.18 ₺ for cherry, 1182.90 ₺ for table grape and 708.70 ₺ for peach in non-certified farms. Logit model has been used in order to analyze the factors affecting the producers' adaptation of certified production system. With reference to the variables affecting the producers adoption of the certified production system; it has been determined for cherry producers that beside the age of the producer and his status for making animal production, mainly economic nature and the market related factors such as the extent of input prices, the non-availability of government support, the non-compliance of exporting firms to the agreement, for table grape producers, that the rate of table grape land within the total farm land area and the status of making animal production and for peaches producers, that the age of the producer were effective. According to results of ordered logit models which have been made for determining the factors affecting the producers' fulfilment level for the major and minor criteria, it has been determined that the socio-economic characteristics such as producer's education period, agricultural experience, off-farm income and the factors such as, main product area, the rate of the main product area within the total land, number of parcels for the main product, variable costs, tractor assets, the status of making animal production, were effective. A significant difference has also been determined among the certified and non-certified firms in terms of major and minor criteria. Keywords: GLOBALGAP (EUREPGAP), cherry, table grape, peach, logit and ordered logit model.