Editing Food distribution (section)

=== Food distribution in Latin America ===
Food distribution in Latin America is mainly dominated by large distributors and chains. Efforts have been made to compete with the [[Industrialisation|industrialization]] of the food distribution system through the establishment of four types of organizations: consumer purchasing organizations, [[Consumers' co-operative|consumer cooperatives]], voluntary chains, and retailer purchasing associations. Consumer purchasing organizations are groups of families who buy food together. The benefits of joining one of these organizations are the reduced [[cost]] and improved variety in diet that comes from purchasing food with other families. Consumer cooperatives differ from consumer purchasing organizations in that they are constituted by groups of individuals who work together to secure high quality food for low prices. The cooperatives are analogous to a food [[Trade union|union]] that actively works to secure the rights of its consumers. Voluntary chains are organizations of privately owned retailers and [[food]] [[Wholesaling|wholesalers]] who operate as one economic body. These groups form contracts to work under, but are economically independent of one another. Retailer purchasing organizations are groups of retailers who purchase products as though they were a single buyer. Members within these organizations are all involved in the purchasing of goods, but do not form contracts.<ref name=":8" />