From farm to plate: How prices triple

Greek consumers often pay nearly three times the price for fruits or vegetables that producers receive when the produce is harvested from the fields. However, the bulk of this price difference doesn't make its way into the pockets of the producers. In reality, producers only retain a profit equivalent to roughly 8 to 9 percent of the final consumer price.

Why is this the case? Aside from the necessary intermediaries in the supply chain, which are crucial given present-day transportation methods for fruits and vegetables, there are also gray areas. Producers, who spoke to Kathimerini on condition of anonymity, claim they are frequently exploited by so-called "contractors" who oversee farm labor crews. These "contractors" often seem to be the ones benefiting most financially, rather than the farm workers themselves, the majority of whom are foreigners.

One illustrative...