The quality apple supply chain

South Tyrol - Südtirol apples are more than just a fruit: they are the pride of an entire region. The epitome of health, their unmistakable flavour and unique pleasure are reflected in high quality standards. Their internal and external values must be safeguarded. This is why our apples undergo a comprehensive series of quality controls, starting in the orchard and ending on the shop shelf: through controlled cultivation in compliance with plant protection laws, through harvesting, delivery, storage, grading, packaging and shipping in accordance with guidelines and, last but not least, through a constant process of analysis, strict selection criteria and transparency that makes it possible to trace the origins of each of our fruits.

VOG quality management system

To meet the needs of all our partners we are committed to constantly improving our management systems throughout the added value chain: from cultivation to harvest, storage, grading, packaging and loading.

Cultivation

Compliance with AGRIOS guidelines for integrated production:
- Selection of apple varieties suitable for the geographic area
- Increase of food safety
- Pesticides chosen from the list of active ingredients permitted for use in orchards
- Recording of each use of pesticides and fertilizers
- Control of the companies, their cultivation areas, licenses and records
Compliance with AGRIOS guidelines on running agricultural enterprises is the basis for participation in IGP and GLOBALG.A.P. certification
Competent technical advice

Harvesting

Test for ripeness with evaluation of internal values:
- Level of starch reduction into sugar
- Sugar
- Acid
- Fruit flesh strength
Identification of optimum harvesting window based on ripeness analysis
Guidelines for harvesting and delivery
Compliance with hygiene parameters
Careful hand-picked harvesting

Delivery and storage

Visual checks of harvest
Labelling of each bin to guarantee product traceability:
- Grower
- Orchard
- Variety
- Delivery date
- Production method
- Quality
Sampling for analysis of pesticide residue. Risk analysis based on the monitoring report
Evaluation of internal quality parameters
Allocation of the optimal cell (climate conditioned) for storage (short, medium or long term)

Sorting

Sorting/grading program
Standard guidelines for product classification and labelling
Labelling after sorting with data taken from the delivery note to guarantee traceability
Sorting protocol with quality and grade classes

Packaging and dispatch

Selection of quality according to the specifications of each order in conformity with the applicable standards or the customer’s specific technical requirements
Outgoing traceability with packaging date, batch number or reference code
Controls on the conformity of the internal and external quality parameters with the specifications requested
Final inspection of products and packaging to determine conformity with the marketing standards, with the brand usage regulations and/or the certification standard

Traceability

Database with complete information on orchard cultivation
Batch number assigned to the delivery note
Labelling of all containers to guarantee identification during the processing cycle
Product sorting protocol
Connection to the results of company inspections and control of records