The talk presents a panorama of surprising and rapid changes in the trader segment in domestic agrifood value chains in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This is a crucial component of transformation of value chains from traditional to transitional and early modern phases, as traders are major “change agents” in food systems. Many of the patterns observed in detailed trader surveys are at odds with conventional wisdom regarding the role of middlemen, vertical integration, outsourcing of agricultural services, etc. Observed patterns, their drivers, and emerging evidence on effects are discussed.