21 April 2010

Growing and packing citrus to meet export market requirements

Discussion points

• Pre-plant investigation• Post plant critical points• Production practices• Picking and handling

activities• Packing process

Pre-plant investigation

• Ensure investment is economically viable– Cost of production

• Quality• Quantity

– Demand for product• Timing• Quality requirements

• Environmental impact study– Sustainable production

• Map orchards– Assist with management

…Pre-plant investigation

• Suitability of “terroir”– Soil

• Suitability for long term production

– Water• Sufficient supply

• Efficient use

– Climate• Quality of product

• Choice of varieties

… Pre-plant investigation

• Horticultural aspects– Suitable rootstocks

• Soil• Compatibility

– Suitable varieties• Optimise seasonal fruit flow• Market demand

– Habit of growth for selected varieties• Optimum espacement

– Wind protection– Certified nursery trees

Post plant critical points

• Integrated production management– Fertilisation– Irrigation– Pest control– Disease control

• Crop management– Remove all fruit in first 3 – 4 years

• Pruning– Light pruning to shape trees

Production practices

• Objective = optimum yield & quality• Integrated production management

– Fertilisation• Soil & leaf analyses

– Irrigation• Use growth curves• Scheduling instruments

– Pest & Disease control• Monitor - trained scouts• Record fruit culls• Develop threshold levels• Orchard sanitation (decay, fruit fly, FCM)• Adhere to usage restrictions for plant protection

products

…Production practices

• Market access– Adhere to phyto requirements– Apply specific GAP’s– Compliance to certification/accreditation requirements

• GlobalGAP minimum• Social accountability• Ethical Labour practices

– Safe handling & storage of chemicals– “Due diligent” checks – chemical residues

Picking and handling

• Objective – optimise shelf-life• Optimum picking window

– Internal & external quality – Maturity indexing – 5 weeks before planned date

• Optimum climatic conditions– Humidity– Temperature

• Harvesting to be supervised– Quality standards– Colour standards– Cleanliness of fruit– Safe handling (injuries)

• Adhere to time protocols

– Condition of equipment– Road surfaces– Sun? – cover fruit

Time Protocol: Picking to Cooling

Time Protocol Picking to Cooling

Action Maximum Period (days)Navels Valencias Lemons Grapefruit Soft Citrus

Pick – drench (degreening)* 36h 36h 36h 36h 36h

Pick – pack (no degreening)* 3 3 3 3 2

Drench - Degreening 1 1 1 1 1

Degreening period (maximum) 3 3 3 3 2.5

Degreening - Pack 1 1 1 1 1

Rejected: Re-pack – Re-inspection 2 2 2 2 NA

Total Period: Pick – Pack** 10 10 10 10 7

Pack – Intake

(Subtract 3 days for degreened fruit)4 4 4 4 3

Intake - Cooling 2 2 2 2 1*If temperature is above 20oC fruit should be drenched within 24 hours (also for fruit that is not degreened and packed immediately).

** In cases where fruit has be accumulated.

Packing

• Apply GMP’s– Protocols– Procedures– Monitor– Record keeping

• HACCP – basic requirements– Food Safety Risks = Critical Control Points– Written procedures to prevent product contamination

• Trained labour force– Cleanliness– Safety– Dress code

Packing

• Ensure traceability – On orchard level– Product recall procedures

• Quality standard per market specification– Monitoring of grading standard– Correctness of

• Packing, packaging, labelling, palletisation, marking– Draw retention monsters

• Phyto specifications– Correct sampling procedures– Correct handling procedures

Packing

• Post harvest chemicals– Correct dosage

– Compliance to MRL’s per market specification• Residue samples

• Adhere to the time protocols• Pack house to be regularly sanitized

QUESTIONS