Comercialização da agricultura familiar e abastecimento urbano no alto Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais

Abstract

The objective of this work is to analyze the products of family farming in urban commerce in the Upper Jequitinhonha Territory, identifying which products enter this circuit. To achieve this goal, interviews with merchants were carried out in five municipalities. The results indicate that commercial establishments thatresell local products attribute to these products superior quality to the products of the food industry, which travel great distances to supermark e tshelves. The quality is related to the tradition alway in which these foods are elaborated: family production is the main characteristic of this system that combines the food custom with the culture and identity of Alto Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais. Results also indicate that the number of local products entering the supermarket circuitis relatively small when compared to the quantity of products from other municipalities and the food industry; this is due to factors related to the formalization, scale and regularity of supply.