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Abstract
In Romania, after the breakdown of the communist regime, collective farms were
replaced by a large number of small-scale private farms. Although cooperation seems
to be a favorable choice for these smallholders, it did not develop so far. This paper
explores the factors that determine the intention formation of Romanian fruit and
vegetable farmers to join marketing cooperatives in the form of so-called Producer
Groups. Our theoretical framework refers to Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior,
modelled by a Structural Equation Model. Intention formation is mainly influenced by
expectations for better prices and easier access to capital. Perceived family support is
another significant factor while confidence in own capabilities and resource
endowment do not seem to play an important role. The level of distrust is generally
high, but not significant as a driver of the intention to cooperate in PGs.