Our Quality Control Process
Our Quality Control Process
Every product passes through multiple inspection steps, from the supply region all the way to shipment. This process safeguards the product's freshness and compliance with standards:
Sourcing & Selection
Products from our grower partners are assessed at the source for ripeness and compliance with visual standards; we ask our grower partners to share their agricultural application records (e.g. spray records)
Sizing & Grading
Products are classified by size, color, and degree of ripeness to ensure homogeneous batch consistency
Standards-Compliant Packaging
Each product is packed with product-specific packaging suited to fresh fruit and vegetable trade requirements for its destination market; the carton label states the packer's details, country of origin, class, and size code
Cold Chain & Storage
Products are kept in cold storage until shipment; transport is carried out in reefer containers with an uninterrupted cold chain
The Quality Standards We Apply
Before shipment, every batch is assessed against internationally recognized classification and documentation rules:
Classification (Extra / Class I / Class II)
Products are classified under the Codex Alimentarius and UNECE fresh fruit and vegetable marketing standards, based on external appearance, uniformity, and defect tolerance.
Caliber, Sizing & Ripeness
Each product is sized according to the caliber/size ranges listed on its own product page; for most fruit, a typical Brix (soluble solids) value is also listed as a ripeness indicator.
Non-Conformance Handling
Produce that does not meet the required caliber, ripeness, or visual standard is sorted out during sizing and grading and excluded from the shipment.
Temperature & Transport
Each product has its own defined transport-temperature range, stated on its product page; on request, temperature is measured throughout shipment with a data logger and reported to the buyer.
Shipping Documents
The phytosanitary certificate, commercial invoice, and packing list are cross-checked before shipment to ensure they match the physical cargo in the container.
The Core Principles Behind Our Approach
Our quality control process rests on a few core principles applied across the entire supply chain:
Supplier Evaluation
Our grower partners are evaluated for quality and consistency; we regularly review the continuity of these partnerships — a practice aligned with the supplier selection and evaluation requirement of ISO 9001:2015.
Traceability
Every batch is matched against its sourcing region and shipment records, so the product's journey can be traced back to its source. See our Traceability page for details.
Responsible Resource Use
We prioritize working with grower partners who use water and soil resources efficiently. See our Sustainability page for details.
Independent Certification
Our quality and food safety management systems are audited and certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 22000:2018 by an independent body. See our Certifications page for details.
Quality Control FAQ
At which stages of the process is quality control carried out?
Control begins at the source, while the product is still with our grower partner, during sourcing and selection; it is repeated during sizing and grading, before packaging, and again just before loading for shipment.
What standards are products classified against?
Classification follows the Extra, Class I, and Class II categories under the Codex Alimentarius and UNECE fresh fruit and vegetable marketing standards.
Do you track temperature during shipment?
Yes, transport runs on an uninterrupted cold chain. See our Logistics page for the full cold-chain and data-logger details.
What happens to produce that does not meet the standards?
During sizing and grading, produce that does not meet the required caliber, ripeness, or visual standard is sorted out and excluded from the shipment.
Do you hold ISO 9001 or ISO 22000 certification?
Yes, our quality and food safety management systems are certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 22000:2018 respectively. See our Certifications page for details.