To maximize efficiency, farmers don't send their eggs directly to a grocery store but would rely on a(n) ________ who handles sales and shipments to supermarkets.

A) distributor
B) fabricator
C) institution
D) trafficker
E) manufacturer

A distributor is a middleman who buys products from farmers and sells to grocery stores. This arrangement allows farmers to focus on production while distributors handle sales and logistics, improving overall efficiency. The other options such as fabricator, institution, trafficker, and manufacturer do not really match the role of a distributor in the agricultural supply chain.