From the field to your warehouse
People often imagine that exporting fresh produce is mostly paperwork and trucks. In reality it is a chain of small steps, and each step either protects the quality of the fruit or quietly takes a little of it away. Here is how a shipment generally goes, and what we think about at each stage.
1. Harvest
Produce is picked at the right stage of maturity, and as early in the day as possible, while it is still cool. Heat is the enemy from the very first minute, so getting the fruit out of the sun matters.
2. Cooling
The sooner the field heat is taken out of the produce, the longer it will last. How this is done depends on the product: dense fruit and delicate berries or leaves are not cooled in the same way.
3. Sorting and grading
Fruit is sorted by size, colour and condition against the specification you gave us. Anything that does not match is set aside, rather than slipped into the order.
4. Packing and labelling
Produce is packed in the format you asked for, whether loose cartons, trays, punnets, retail packs or private label, with the labels and information your market requires.
5. Cold storage and loading
Packed goods wait in the cold until the truck or container is ready, and the vehicle itself should already be at the right temperature before loading starts, so that the load does not warm up on the way in.
6. Transport
To Europe there are two usual routes: trucks, which cross the Strait by ferry, and containers by sea. Which one is better depends on the product, the distance and how soon you need the goods. Fast and delicate products tend to prefer the road, heavier and more resistant ones are comfortable by sea.
What to check at each stage
| Stage | What matters |
|---|---|
| Harvest | Maturity, cleanliness, time in the sun |
| Packing | Size, weight, labels that match the specification |
| Cold storage | The temperature is the right one for the product |
| Loading | The vehicle is clean, cool and the load is well supported |
| Arrival | Condition of the goods and temperature records, if you asked for them |
Documents
A shipment travels with its paperwork, usually at least a commercial invoice and a packing list, and, depending on the product and the destination, certificates such as a phytosanitary certificate or other documents your country asks for. Tell us where the goods are going and we will explain what is needed.
Questions about a shipment of your own? Request a quote and we will go through it with you.
