A comparative study of the legal and grey wild product supply chains

Wild product picking in most cases is considered as a backward activity that cannot be associated with important macro or micro level gains. However, significant amount of research shows otherwise - illustrating how wild products support local communities and can become to be a noteworthy economic sector. The contradiction between forest product perception and opportunities these products offer often causes inappropriate forest product governance. In this article wild blueberry picking in Latvia is analysed. The wild product sector has grown significantly during the last decade in Latvia. However, despite the growth the sector remains almost unregulated. The article analyses two types of supply chains that have emerged due to lack of government presence and illustrates possibilities for community both supply chain types offer.