STANDARD FRUIT SPECIFICATIONS

Transcription

1 STANDARD FRUIT SPECIFICATIONS CONTENTS INTRODUCTION DEFINITIONS GENERAL STANDARD PESTS DEFECTS AND DISORDERS INTERNAL DISORDERS SPOILT FRUIT COSMETIC DEFECTS ADDITIONAL DEFECTS ENZA SUBMISSION PROFILES (ESP) AND MATURITY COOLCHAIN SPECIFICATIONS INHERENT DEFECTS OTHER ACCOUNTABLE DEFECTS ACCOUNTABILITY PERIODS NON COMPLIANT FRUIT ENZA Specifications Manual V 9.4 Page 1 of 10

2 INTRODUCTION The following information details the fruit standards that must be met to supply ENZAFruit for export. Some varieties may have fruit standards that vary from those details below. These standards will be covered within the individual tables for the relevant variety in A2 Apple Variety Specifications, A3 Pear Variety Specifications and A4 Organic Variety Specifications. Product specifications for specific Customer Programmes are covered in section A5 Customer Product Requirements. Fruit that does not meet the required fruit standards will not be accepted by ENZAFruit. There may be additional standards identified in the Fruit Supply Agreement that have not been included in these specifications. 1 DEFINITIONS Individual Fruit Allowance The maximum allowable level of a defect or disorder permitted on an individual fruit (eg. 1 cm 2 of blemish on the skin surface) Tolerance The maximum number or percentage of fruit, which exceed individual fruit allowances within a defined sample size 2 GENERAL STANDARD Fruit must be of one variety and be true to type Fruit must be sound and intact Fruit must be practically free of all pests and pest damage Fruit must be free of any: foreign smells foreign tastes foreign matter excessive moisture 3 PESTS For details of the maximum pest limits acceptable for export markets refer to the Importing Country Phytosanitary Requirements or the Pipfruit Industry Market Declaration System. 4 DEFECTS AND DISORDERS Tolerances for Defects and Disorders: Internal Disorders 2% Spoilt Defects 2% Cosmetic Defects 6% Cumulative Defects (Spoilt + Cosmetic) 6% Additional Defects 4% 5 INTERNAL DISORDERS Tolerance for Internal Disorders 2% ENZA Specifications Manual V 9.4 Page 2 of 10

3 Individual Fruit Allowances Cutting assessment must be completed for internal disorders for fruit that is considered to be at risk, as required by the Variety Specifications and detailed in C2 - Storage Risk Management, and D2 Fruit Inspection for Internal Disorders. Disorder Internal Browning Disorder (e.g. BBD) Mouldy Core Mouldy Core Rot Vascular Associated Browning (VAB) Frost Damage Watercore Defect Description The symptoms are expressed as browning of the internal flesh and the formation of cavities. Generally, areas of medium to brown tissue are found throughout the cortex and core areas, tending to be concentrated at the calyx end of the fruit but spreading throughout the fruit in severe cases. Affected lesion areas are either dry or wet when cut and cavities may be present within the brown tissue. External symptoms are rare and affected fruit cannot be detected without cutting. Mouldy Core is an internal fungal disorder that affects certain varieties, in particular Red Delicious, Fuji and Pacific Rose (Sciros). Invasive Mouldy Core is defined as any rot/fungi that extends out from the locules into the flesh this may be either dry (Mouldy Core) or wet (Core Rot). Mouldy Core is identified in some varieties by their high background and foreground colour at harvest. VAB appears as discoloured (brown, black) spots or lignifications of the apple flesh. VAB is always associated with the vascular tissue of the fruit and is more prominent in the stem end and mid section of the fruit, with fewer occurrences in the calyx end of the fruit (vice versa for Otago fruit). Frosted fruit has a flattened appearance at the calyx end with a brown russetted frost ring. Discolouration on other parts of the skin surface can also occur with internal brown flecking. The affected flesh has a glassy or clear appearance radiating from the seed cavity to the outer surface. In severe cases the affected fruit has a patch of skin darker than the normal skin colour. This is easier to detect on green varieties and more difficult on reds. Watercore seen in fruit varies depending on the region and season - the two types seen are Radial Core and Block Watercore. Individual Fruit Allowance Total aggregate area must be less than 1 cm 2 acceptance of invasive Mouldy Core Total aggregate area must be less than 1 cm 2 Total aggregate area of internal flecking must be less than 1 cm 2 Affected area must be less than 25%, unless specified otherwise in the Variety Specifications ENZA Specifications Manual V 9.4 Page 3 of 10

4 6 SPOILT DEFECTS Tolerance for Spoilt Defects 2% Individual Fruit Allowances Defect Black Spot Cracks Defect Description A fungal infection, which appears on the fruit skin surface as spots or dried, brown and sometimes cracked areas, surrounded with a black outer edging. Secondary infection may appear as small powdery white or peppery black dots. Cracks of the skin in the calyx and stem ends of Cox Orange Pippin and strains. Individual Fruit Allowance Cracks must be dry, healed, 1cm long and 1 mm wide. The bottom of the cracks must be visible Cuts Skin of the fruit is cut. Elsinoe Lenticel Blotch Major Bruise Pit Internal Pit - External Rots Scald Stem Pulls / Tears A fungal infection, which appears on the fruit skin surface initially as small red spots enlarging to become black with a red margin later becoming whitish in the centre with narrow black/red zones around the margin Disorder, which can be associated with low levels of calcium or mineral imbalance which appears on the skin surface as brown circular depressions. Bruising of the flesh without breaking the skin. Disorder, which can be associated with low levels of calcium or mineral imbalance. It can appear in the flesh of the fruit as areas of dry, brown spongy or corky tissue as well as dark green to brown circular depressions through the skin. Discolouration, softening and breakdown of flesh tissue as a result of fungal or bacterial infection. There are two main cateogories of rots; - storage rots - secondary rots Physiological disorder of pipfruit, which is displayed as a brown to grey discolouration of irregular shaped areas on the surface of the fruit. Some forms of scald appear as bands of dimpling that can progress inward to invade into the flesh of the fruit, resulting in brown corky dehydrated tissue. Detachment of the fruit stem leaving exposed areas of flesh. For apples, stems may be missing provided that the break is clean and there is no torn flesh or skin. For pears, the stem must be intact, but may be slightly damaged. ENZA Specifications Manual V 9.4 Page 4 of 10 Firm to touch and > 1 cm 2 in total area Stem Punctures Puncture of the fruit skin. Stem/Calyx Splits Wilt / Shrivel Splits of the skin in the stem/calyx of the fruit. Splits usually originate from the stem and spread outward in a straight line. These can sometimes stretch outward over the fruit shoulder. Visible wrinkling of the fruit skin surface, associated with water loss. Splits must be narrow (1 mm wide), 1 cm in length, cream to light brown in colour and not immediately obvious to the eye

5 7 COSMETIC DEFECTS Tolerance Cosmetic Defects 6% Individual Fruit Allowances Defect Defect Description Individual Fruit Allowance Blemish Superficial marks caused by scuffing or scratching of the fruit skin surface. Marks must be superficial and 1 cm 2 and not exceeding 2 cm in length Bruising - Superficial Chimera Striping Superficial bruising of the fruit near the surface, without breaking the skin. A distinct stripe or band of colour, which usually extends in a straight line from the stem end down over the cheek to the calyx end. Bruises must be superficial with no distinct edges, not indented, and 1 cm 2 in total area The stripe must be 5 mm wide Colour Refer to Variety Specifications. Refer to Variety Specifications Frost Damage External Greasy Fruit Late Blossom Mark Proximity patches Russet Frost damage on fruit appears as russetting and/or flattening off of the calyx end, and may also cause discolouration of skin surface areas. Presence of undesirable waxy film on skin surface, which increases with the maturity of the fruit. Late blossom mark appears as a noticeably raised lump on the fruit, which is usually on the shoulder, shaping downward on the cheek. They can also be found as a slightly raised shape on the cheek and may distort the skin colouration. Colourless patches found on the skin surface of fruit, which have remained in constant and close proximity to another fruit inhibiting normal colour development. These patches are usually light in colour and very susceptible to sunburn if exposed to direct sunlight. Brown scar tissue found on the skin surface. Russet can be categorised as the following types: Light russetting in the calyx is allowed provided fruit is not misshapen Greasy fruit is not permitted Late blossom mark and swirls of colour are permitted provided the fruit is not misshapen by the defect. Minor marks are permitted if they are present in the stem cavities and the fruit is not misshapen A proximity patch is allowed if it is white/pink in colour and is 1cm 2 Brown proximity patches are not permitted Russet - Cheek Solid smooth russet located on the cheek of the fruit. Cheek russet must be smooth and be 1 cm 2 in total area, unless otherwise stated in the Variety Specification ENZA Specifications Manual V 9.4 Page 5 of 10

6 Defect Defect Description Individual Fruit Allowance Russet - Lenticel Russet - Ring Russet - Rough Russet - Stem-end Russet - Tracery Shape Spots Superficial (including Calcium burn) Sunburn Sun-Tinting Russet of the lenticels of the fruit. A smooth circle of russet located on the skin surface of fruit. Rings may be complete but are more often fragmented and may be mixed with areas of smooth cheek russet. Russet, which is raised above the skin surface, rough to touch and has a brown scaly appearance. Russet located in the stem cavity but often spills over the apple shoulder and onto the cheek. The shoulder is described as the area that touches when the stem end of an apple is held against a flat surface. Smooth net-like russet of thin lines. If the lines join into small patches or solid areas it is classified as solid russet. Defects, which cause fruit to lose their characteristic varietal shape, such as limb mark, dropped shoulder/ calyx or late blossom. Small dark brown to black circular or irregular shaped spots which are superficial, non-invasive or unlikely to breakdown. Damage caused by the sunburn ranges from skin colour changes to pronounced areas of discolouration as well as depressed wrinkled and/or dimpled areas. The flesh of severely sunburnt fruit can be dead with discolouration extending 1 cm or more into the flesh. A very mild form of sunburn of the skin. Russetting of fruit lenticels is allowed unless it occurs on fruit which already has the maximum allowance for any other russet type ie. cheek, tracery, ring or stem-end One complete or two part rings are allowed provided the russet is 3 mm wide and the ring is 2 cm in diameter Russet which is noticeably rough to touch is not allowed Stem-end russet must not extend over the shoulder of the fruit, unless stated otherwise in the Variety Specification Tracery russet must be 20% of skin surface area unless stated in the Variety Specifications Shape must be uniform and characteristic of the variety. The following are not allowed: - dropped shoulder/calyx with 15 angle - a limb mark which visibly distorts the shape of the fruit - a late blossom mark which distorts the shape of the fruit A maximum of three small, superficial and non-progressive spots are allowed. Spots must be 0.25 cm 2 in total area Sunburn is not permitted Sun-tinting must blend in with the fruit and have no defined edge between the affected area and the surrounding skin Surface Deposits Any visible foreign matter or deposits on the fruit. No visible surface deposits are allowed on fruit ENZA Specifications Manual V 9.4 Page 6 of 10

7 8 ADDITIONAL DEFECTS Tolerance for Additional Defects 4% (over and above the 6% cumulative defect tolerance). Individual Fruit Allowances Defect Defect Description Individual Fruit Allowance Hail - Spots Hail - Russet Hail - Bruise Indentations of varying colouration and size caused by the impact of hailstones striking the fruit skin surface. Brown scar tissue, which usually appears as smooth or rough circular areas depending upon when the hail occurs in the growing season, and the type of hail. Bruising caused by hailstones. A maximum of three small (1-2 mm diameter) visible spots or one larger (4 mm diameter) indentation is permitted. Discoloured indentations are not permitted A maximum of 1 cm 2 is allowed. The russeted area must be smooth and superficial Hail bruising must be light and superficial, totalling no more than 1 cm 2 in area. Bruises, which are dark and sunken are not permitted Fruit Sizing In addition to the requirement to adhere to fruit weight specifications, minimum fruit diameters are specified for the EU/UK markets as follows for all class I, II and organic pipfruit: Apples: 60mm diameter or 90gms in weight for all apple varieties (smaller sized fruit can be accepted providing the brix level is 10.5%, and the size is 50mm or 70gms) Pears: > 50mm for Concorde, Conference > 55mm for all other pear varieties 9 ENZA SUBMISSION PROFILES (ESP) AND MATURITY Fruit must meet the minimum ESP (where applicable) and maturity requirements for the relevant variety, as specified in the Variety Specifications. Maturity Maturity specifications for each variety are defined in the Variety Specifications. A Go Date must be established for each orchard block. The Go Date is the date when fruit from the block should be first harvested based on the harvest maturity parameters of the variety. Methods for establishing a Go Date can be found in C1 - Harvest Management. Maturity records must be submitted to the packhouse as outlined in those guidelines. The Harvest Decision Tree (refer to C1b - Harvest Management) should be used as a tool for determining when to begin and when to end harvest. When determining when to end harvest, the Harvest Decision Tree allows three days grace to complete harvest given certain conditions. ENZA Specifications Manual V 9.4 Page 7 of 10

8 ENZA Submission Profiles ESPs must be established for those varieties where specified, using the methods documented in C1 - Harvest Management. ESP records must be submitted to the packhouse as outlined in those guidelines. The following table describes the key ESP and maturity parameters. ESP Maturity Parameter Flesh Firmness Background Colour Starch Pattern Index (SPI) Description A measure of the firmness of the fruit flesh, which can give an indication of fruit crispness and texture. Flesh Firmness is measured in units of kilograms force kg-f, using a 11.1 mm probe for Apples and Asian pears and a 7.9 mm probe for European pears. A measure of the skin colour behind the foreground colour of fruit. Background colour is measured in swatch numbers. Swatch types are specified in the Variety Specifications. A measure of starch reserves in fruit using iodine to stain the starch and allow measurement. Light or no staining indicates a higher starch pattern index and shorter storage potential. Starch Pattern Index is measured using the Starch Pattern Index chart for the relevant variety. Soluble Solids A measure of the combined sugars contained in fruit, which can affect taste and eating quality. Soluble Solids is measured in units of % Brix. Titratable Acidity A measure of the acidity of the fruit, which affects the eating quality of the fruit. Titratable Acidity is measured in units of % Malic acid. Ethylene A measure of the ethylene rate of production, giving an indication of the respiration rate of the fruit, which is related to storage potential. Ethylene production is measured in L/kg/hr 10 COOLCHAIN SPECIFICATIONS Field bins are required to be into coolstore on the day of harvest, and brought down to storage temperatures within five days of harvest, with the exception of Envy & Jazz varieties (refer to A2, specific Apple Variety Specifications). The period may be extended to within 24 hours of the day of harvest for fruit that is to be packed the following day or in instances where fruit requires post harvest drenching. Fruit that reaches 30 C or more during post-harvest handling is not acceptable for export. Further coolchain specifications are detailed in the following sections of the Specifications Manual: A2 Fruit Specifications Apple Variety sheet C3 Harvest Requirements Coolchain D4 Packhouse Management - Coolchain F2 Coolstore Management Temperature Management G1 Product Delivery Specifications - FAS Delivery 11 INHERENT DEFECTS Inherent defects are defined as fruit defects that develop after the fruit has been submitted into ENZAFruit s inventory. Suppliers are accountable for these defects as specified in the Standard Fruit Specifications. ENZA Specifications Manual V 9.4 Page 8 of 10

9 Those defects include, but are not limited to, the following: Internal Browning Disorder, including BBD Mouldy Core and Mouldy Core Rot Vascular Associated Browning (VAB) Water Core above limits defined in these Fruit Specifications and Variety Specifications Black Spot (secondary) Pit Internal, including Bitter Pit Pit External, including Lenticel Blotch Rots (secondary) Scald, including Superficial Scald and Soft Scald Wilt / Shrivel Senescent Breakdown Greasy Fruit Calcium Burn Elsinoe 12 OTHER ACCOUNTABLE DEFECTS As stated in the Fruit Supply Agreement, the Supplier is responsible for all fruit and packing defects. Other accountable defects include, but are not limited to, the following: Frost Damage (internal and external) Black Spot (primary) Cuts Major Bruise Rots (primary) Punctures, including Stem Punctures Stem Pulls Blemish Chimera Striping Colour, including Over-Colour Late Blossom Mark Proximity Patches Russet (all types) Shape Spots Superficial (excluding Calcium Burn) Stem splits Sunburn and Sun Tinting Surface Deposits Cracks Hail Damage (all types) Wrongly sized fruit Frozen fruit 13 ACCOUNTABILITY PERIODS Growers will be accountable for all product indefinitely. ENZA Specifications Manual V 9.4 Page 9 of 10

10 14 NON COMPLIANT FRUIT ENZA will not be accountable for fruit not meeting specifications either ENZA or Customer, for fruit quality or incorrect packaging. Where out of specification fruit is found ENZA will endeavour to maximize return or by notice to the supplier If the fruit is found pre FAS, return the fruit to the supplier for reconditioning. If the fruit is found post FAS, manage the logistics to recondition the fruit to a saleable condition and recover the incurred costs based on the following; o o o Based on a 100 fruit inspection recover sales price for the week multiplied by the number of TCE from the same RPIN on that pallet multiplied by the percentage defects found. Based on a 600 fruit inspection recover sales price for the week multiplied by the number TCE in the consignment from the same pack date code multiplied by the percentage defects. In both incidences the additional handling costs to recondition the fruit will be recovered as appropriate eg QC inspection cost of QC to re inspect fruit Transport cost to shift pallets to a repacking facility Labour to repack staff costs to complete reconditioning New packaging material new customer packing RH&D (recieval, handling and distribution) - Coolstore handling fee Administration cost Sales loss difference between actual sales of clean fruit and that of out of specification fruit where price was lowered to sell as opposed reconditioned. Low Grade out charges additional staff cost to remove defect fruit C2 packing cost cost to pack class 2 fruit Waste disposal - cost to dispose of reject fruit ENZA Specifications Manual V 9.4 Page 10 of 10