Participation in international trade has become one of the most important factors in the growth of prosperity of countries. Yet for many developing countries, perhaps particularly for those in Sub-Saharan Africa, trade is viewed primarily from a defensive perspective, with a focus on the disruptive effects of imports rather than on the opportunities presented by increased access to world markets. A key reason for this is the existence of information market gaps that are often associated with trade facilitation and development in developing countries; information on the export performance and potential of many developing countries remains incomplete.
International trade in fruit and vegetables has been growing over the past 40 or so years, at a much faster pace than other agricultural commodities. Its share in world agricultural trade has increased from 10.6% in 1961 (US$3.4-billion) to 16.9% in 2001 ($70bn) . More recently, from 2000 to 2004, the value of trade in fruits and vegetables increased by over 40%, from $52bn to $74bn, at an annual rate of growth of 9.3%.