Resumen en español

This paper presents an alternative to optimize the quality and freshness of the fruits and vegetables bought by final consumer, according to the evaluation and optimization of the return cycles of the plastic containers in the distribution centers (CEDI) in Medellín and in points of sale of a store chain studied for the zone of Medellín and the Atlantic Coast. In order to optimize the return cycles, people has believed that it is only necessary to study the direct logistics of products since they leave the CEDI until they arrive at the stores, consequently, only half of the problem is being studied. Retailers must guarantee to their supplier that the plastic containers return so that he can pack his products again, that is to say, to study inverse or reverse logistic, a new fundamental concept for all those companies that they have consciousness about environment and they worry about the recovery of products at the end of their life utility.