Global Journal of Economic and Finance Research

The purchasing process in raspberry production, a high-value crop, is a determining factor in operating costs and agribusiness competitiveness. This study aimed to determine the perceptions of decision-makers in raspberry-producing companies in the San Quintin Valley regarding the relationship between purchasing process management and cost reduction. An explanatory, mixed-methods, cross-sectional study was conducted, using a structured questionnaire to 17 industry professionals. Nonparametric analysis techniques, specifically Spearman's correlation, were used to evaluate the relationships between key variables such as purchasing organization, prices, quality, purchasing frequency, and perception of final cost. The results showed significant correlations (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01), highlighting a strong relationship between purchasing organization and prices paid (ρ = 0.852), as well as between the perception of the influence of the purchasing system on the final price and total operating costs (ρ = 0.633). This evidence supports the hypothesis that the implementation of structured, planned, and strategic purchasing processes has a positive impact on cost reduction. It is concluded that fostering an organizational culture focused on professionalized purchasing management is essential for the sustainability and profitability of raspberry agribusinesses in the region. 

purchasing process, cost reduction, buyer perception, agribusiness, raspberry, San Quintin, agricultural management.

1. Aguilar, R., & Gómez, L. (2022). Strategic purchasing in Mexican agro-industrial firms: A case study in Baja California. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 25(2), 215–230. https://doi.org/10.22434/IFAMR2021.0078 
2. Aldas-Manzano, J., & Cervera-Taulet, A. (2019). Strategic purchasing and cost reduction in agri-food supply chains. British Food Journal, 121(10), 2345–2360. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-01- 2019-0042 
3. Baeza, C., & Silva, P. (2020). Perception of risk in agricultural purchasing decisions: A behavioral approach. Agricultural Systems, 184, 102901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2020.102901 
4. Barrientos, S., & Smith, S. (2019). Ethical purchasing and cost pressures in global berry supply chains. World Development, 115, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.10.015 
5. Bravo-Ureta, B., & Solís, D. (2021). Efficiency analysis of berry producers in Mexico: The role of input sourcing strategies. Agricultural Economics, 52(3), 457–471. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12632 
6. Carmona, C., & Acosta, M. (2023). Behavioral economics in agricultural procurement: Evidence from Latin America. Food Policy, 115, 102435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2022.102435 
7. Castillo, A., & Díaz, M. (2019). Cost reduction through collaborative purchasing in agro-food clusters. Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development, 52(2), 113–128. https://doi.org/10.17306/JARD.2019.02.52.2 
8. Contreras, L., & Paredes, R. (2021). Perception of input quality and cost trade-offs in berry production. Agricultural Systems, 193, 103215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103215 
9. Cortés, G., & Ruiz, M. (2022). Purchasing process optimization for cost efficiency in perishable agribusiness. Operations Management Research, 15(3–4), 321–338. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12063021-00212-3 
10. Correa Assmus, G. (2017). El deber ser en los agronegocios. Revista de la Universidad de La Salle, 2017(72), 253-274. 
11. Davis, J. H., & Goldberg, R. A. (1957). A concept of agribusiness. Harvard University. 
12. De Paredes, O. R. M. (2017). Rentabilidad de la producción agrícola desde la perspectiva de los costos reales: municipios Pueblo Llano y Rangel del estado Mérida, Venezuela. Visión Gerencial, (2), 217232. 
13. Delgado, C., & Muñoz, A. (2023). Perception of procurement risks in Mexican agro-exporters: A mixedmethods study. International Journal of Logistics Management, 34(1), 156–175. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-05-2022-0211 
14. Fernández, A., & García, S. (2023). Cost reduction through digital procurement platforms in agribusiness. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 204,107522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2022.107522 
15. Gallardo, M., & Thompson, G. (2022). Perception of value in agricultural input purchasing: A behavioral economics approach. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 44 (2), 789–805. https://doi.org/10.1093/aepp/ppab045 
16. Ibarra, G., & Ramírez, C. (2022). Behavioral factors in agricultural procurement decisions. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 98, 101856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2022.101856 
17. Juárez, M., & Torres, R. (2019). Cost reduction strategies in small-scale agribusiness: The role of collective purchasing. Small Enterprise Research, 26 (3), 301–320. https://doi.org/10.1080/13215906.2019.1626789 
18. Mendoza, J. M. H., & Mendoza, S. L. H. (2019). Etapas del proceso administrativo. *Boletín Científico de la Escuela Superior Atotonilco de Tula, 6 (11), 66-67. 
19. Mercado H., S. (2012). Compras. Principios y aplicaciones. Editorial Patria. 
20. Morales-Zamorano, L.A., Cuevas, I. y Soriano, J.F. (2024). Marco Teórico sobre Agronegocios y Desarrollo Rural. En: Luis Morales, Compilador. Un enfoque sistémico en los Agronegocios: oportunidades para el desarrollo rural. Editorial Comunicación Científica, ISBN 978-607-9104- 48-1, México. p. 27- 59 https://doi.org/10.52501/cc.204.01 
21. Palacios, M., & Rodríguez, J. (2021). Optimización del área de abastecimiento para incrementar la rentabilidad. Revista Logística Integral, 15 (3), 45-52. 
22. Ponce, G. O. A. V., Pilozo, D. H. P., & Chávez, V. E. M. (2021). Proceso administrativo: factor determinante en el desarrollo organizacional de las mipymes. Revista Publicando, 8 (31), 258-278. https://doi.org/10.51528/rp.vol8.id2249 
23. Rivera Rodríguez, A., Vargas-Canales, J. M., Orozco-Cirilo, S., & Orozco-Varela, C. (2022). Análisis de la relación de la demanda y la rentabilidad en los agronegocios. Jóvenes en la Ciencia, 16.
24. SIAP. (2025). Anuario Estadístico de la Producción Agrícola. Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural. https://www.gob.mx/siap 
25. USDA. (2025). Mexico: Berry Production Annual Report. United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service. 
26. Vázquez Aguilar, B. (2023). Oportunidades de Negocio en las berries de Baja California. El Economista. https://www.eleconomista.com.mx 
27. Zepeda, R., & Contreras, J. (2022). Purchasing process digitalization and cost reduction in agribusiness: Evidence from Mexico.      Technology in Society, 71, 101987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.101987