Assessing the Performance of Greek Fruit and Vegetable Cooperatives: Evidence from Data Envelopment Analysis and the Malmquist Productivity Index

Agricultural cooperatives play a key role in improving the competitiveness and sustainability of the agri-food sector. This study evaluates the productivity dynamics and operational performance of twenty-two Greek fruit and vegetable cooperatives during 2019–2023, using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the Malmquist Productivity Index to assess technical efficiency, scale efficiency, and productivity change over time. Total assets, operating expenses, financial expenses, and equity capital were used as inputs, while sales, operating surplus, and return on assets (ROA) were used as outputs. Mean technical efficiency was 0.718 under Constant Returns to Scale (CRS) and 0.820 under Variable Returns to Scale (VRS), with sixteen of the twenty-two cooperatives operating under increasing returns to scale. Total factor productivity declined on average by approximately 6.4% per year (TFPCH = 0.936), a cumulative decline of approximately 23% over 2019–2023, driven by technological regress (TECHCH = 0.863) that more than offset gains in technical efficiency (EFFCH = 1.085), mainly attributable to pure technical efficiency (PECH = 1.109) rather than scale efficiency. These results provide useful evidence for managers and policymakers, highlighting the importance of organizational improvement, technological modernization, and economies of scale in strengthening the long-term competitiveness and economic sustainability of Greek fruit and vegetable cooperatives.