- Insect damage due to weather conditions is a lot higher this year than we have even seen.
- We have found 1 field that is insect free, but it is not ready for harvest just yet.
- A trial will be done this afternoon and if it is possible, we will use this field for the next delivery.
- If we can’t use this field yet, the only product available will be similar to the last delivery.
- Instructions will then be given to personnel to make extra tight grading on the inspection tables, but we must already say that the internal damage can ‘t be seen and can’t be guaranteed to be taken out
- We will make a quality report of the product on departure, including pictures so you can show the customer what to expect on arrival.
- As the season progresses and the weather turns colder, the insect pressure will become less and the quality should gradually improve …
Regarding packaging no great progress at the moment:
- We can only offer 10kg netbags at the moment
- Investigating 10 cartons with liners, but our boxes are open boxes, not closed boxes as in your Australian example
- Investigating plastic bag option, but the grower is worried that it could suffocate the sprouts and would like to do some shelflife test at home before using these for export.
- Is it possible to maybe make 2 boxes or so in a different packaging as trial? Is this ok for customs and KFDA? How must we do this not to run into trouble?
- Still no conclusive feedback on 5kg flowpack, but I am not pushing this anymore since clearly the preference is 10kg