Quality Standards for Fresh Produce Overview of the

Quality Standards for Fresh Produce Overview of the UNECE Standard Layout 1 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Plant Protection & Inspection Services (PPIS) PPIS is the enforcement authority of the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the fields of: n n n Plant Quality Plant Health Food and Feed Safety Facilitation and improvement of market access for Israeli produce in order to ensure that the export of horticultural products will remain viable and competitive 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 2

PPIS Activities • Plant Quarantine Services • Inspection Services for Fresh Produce • Pest Management • Propagation Material Certification • Diagnostic Institute • Pesticides and Feeds • Plant Quality and Safety Schemes • Training and Support Programs • Quality Assurance 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 3

What is Quality? n A combination of factors n Attributes & properties that give the commodity value n Varied factors that contribute value to the commodity n As food for people qual·i·ty n. [kwóllətee] Superiority; Degree or grade of excellence Excellence: the highest or finest standard 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 4

Quality Factors Appearance • Size • Weight • Shape • Smoothness • Uniformity • Freshness • Color • Gloss 19 -Mar-18 Defects • External • Internal • Morphological • Physical • Mechanical • Physiological • Pathological • Entomological Flavor • Sweetness • Sourness • Bitterness • Astringency • Aroma • Off flavors/odors Texture • Firmness • Softness • Crispness • Juiciness • Mealiness • Fibrousness Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 5

Factors influencing quality Pre-Harvest • Genetic factors • Climatic conditions • Soil types • Agro technical practices During Harvest • Maturity • Temperature at harvest • Harvesting method • Hand harvesting • Mechanical harvesting Post-Harvest • Temperature • Relative humidity • Controlled atmosphere • Ethylene, CO 2 • Handling, Packaging & Transportation 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 6

What are Quality Standards? n Define (relevant) quality factors n Standardize these factors n Provide a means to measure the “value” of agricultural products Stan’dard n. [stándərd] …accepted as the norm, by which attainments are judged …an authorized model used to define a unit of measurement 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 7

What are Quality Standards? n Set minimum standards n Set benchmarks n Greater harmonization n Common interpretation n Settle claims and disputes 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 8

Who needs Quality Standards? n Regulatory Authorities n Marketing Boards n Farmers / Producers n Packaging Industry n Wholesalers / Retailers n Exporters / Importers n Consumers 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 9

The importance of quality standards 19 -Mar-18 Sweetie (grapefruit x pummelo) Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 10

Quality standards help to set apart ‘good’ product from ‘bad’ product n Helps to identify the degree of quality in a commodity which is the basis for its usability and value 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 11

Standardization of Fruit & Vegetables A historical reminder 1949 – First activities at the UN/ECE • After the Second World War, with the development of world trade in fruit & vegetables, the need emerged for harmonized standards • Two international organizations undertook work on this subject: • the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) • the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 12

Which Quality Standards? n International Standards n UN/ECE Standards n OECD Standards n EU Standards n Codex Standards (CCFFV) n National Standards n n U. S. Grade Standards Canadian ‘Minimum Grades’ Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code South African Agricultural Product Standards n Commercial Standards 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 13

Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organization of the market in fruit and vegetables (OJ L 297, 21. 1996, 9. 1) TITLE I Classification of products Article 2, Point 2 The standards for fresh fruit and vegetables contained in Annex I shall be adopted, by the procedure laid down in Article 46, for implementing the common organization of the markets. To this end, account shall be taken of the UN/ECE standards recommended by the Economic Commission for Europe's Working Party on perishable product standardization and quality. 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 14

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Annonas; Apples; Apricots; Artichokes; Asparagus; Aubergines; Avocados; Beans; Bilberries & Blueberries; Broccoli; Brussels sprouts; Cabbages; Carrots; Cauliflowers; Cherries; Chicory; Citrus; Cucumbers; Courgettes; Mushrooms; Chestnuts; Fennel; Figs; Garlic; Horseradish; Kiwifruit; Leeks; Lettuce; Mangoes; Melons; Onions; Peaches & Nectarines; Pears; Peas; Pineapples; Plums; Potatoes; Radishes; Raspberries; Celery; Rhubarb; Scorzonera; Spinach; Strawberries; Peppers; Grapes; Tomatoes; Truffles; Watermelons 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 18

UN/ECE STANDARD LAYOUT Each Standard Contains Six Chapters: n Definition of Produce n Provisions Concerning Quality n Provisions Concerning Sizing n Provisions Concerning Tolerances n Provisions Concerning Presentation n Provisions Concerning Marking 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 19

I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE n Botanical Name n Variety / Cultivar Names “To be supplied fresh to the consumer” (Produce for industrial processing – excluded) 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 20

I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE "citrus fruit" n lemons … Citrus limon n limes … Citrus latifolia n mandarins (Citrus reticulata), including satsumas (Citrus unshiu), clementines (Citrus clementina), common mandarins (Citrus deliciosa) and tangerines (Citrus tangerina) n oranges … Citrus sinensis n grapefruit … Citrus paradisi n pummelos or Shaddock … Citrus maxima 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 21

II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY n Minimum Requirements n Minimum Maturity Requirements n Classification n “Extra” Class n Class II 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 22

II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY A. Minimum requirements n Intact n Free from n Sound n Pests n damage caused by pests n Clean n external moisture n Fresh n foreign smells / tastes …and in addition… 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 23

II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY B. Maturity Requirements n Minimum juice content n Minimum total soluble solids content (TSS), i. e. minimum sugar content n Colouring. . and in addition. . . 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 24

Avocados 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 25

Table Grapes 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 26

II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY C. Classification: n Extra Class (Superior quality) n Class I (Good quality) n Class II (Meets the minimum requirements) (i) "Extra" Class Apples n Apples in this class must be of superior quality. In shape, size and colouring they must be characteristic of the variety and the stalk must be intact. n The flesh must be perfectly sound. n They must be free from defects with the exception of very slight superficial defects. 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 27

Sweet Peppers Class I n Sweet peppers in this class must be of characteristic of the variety. . . n They must be: n good quality. They must be firm practically free of blemishes. n The peduncle may be slightly damaged n or cut with the calyce intact. Class II n … peppers which do not qualify for inclusion in Class I but satisfy the minimum requirements. . . n The following defects may be allowed …: n defects in shape and development n sunburn or slight healed injuries, with a limit of 2 cm in length for defects of elongated shape, and 1 cm 2 of the total area for other defects n slight dry superficial cracks not exceeding an overall cumulative length of 3 cm. n They may be less firm without being withered. n The peduncle may be damaged or cut. 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 28

What is “Superficial” ? 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 29

What is “Slight Defects in Shape” ? How much “sunburn”? “bruising”? 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 30

What is “Colour characteristic of the variety” ? 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 31

III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING n Determination of sizes n Diameter, Weight, Length n Minimum sizes n Size ranges 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 32

Citrus: Size is determined by the maximum diameter of the equatorial section of the fruit. 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 33

Avocados Size is determined by the weight of the fruit. 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 34

IV. PROVISIONS CONCERNING TOLERANCES n Quality Tolerances 5% for “Extra Class” n 10% for either Class I and II n Size Tolerances n 10% for each class n 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 35

IV. PROVISIONS CONCERNING TOLERANCES Class II ≈ Minimum Requirements Extra Class I +5% Class II +10% Less than the Minimum Requirements +10% 19 -Mar-18 Unfit for Human Consumption Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 36

Danida pictures of count / weight 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 37

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V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION n Uniformity n Packaging n Presentation 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 40

V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION A. Uniformity n The contents of each package must be uniform (same origin, quality and size). n {Other possible provisions depending on the nature of produce}. n The visible part of the contents of the package must be representative of the entire contents. 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 41

Uniformity 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 42

V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION B. Packaging n Packed to protect the produce properly n Materials used must n be new & clean n avoid causing any damage to the produce n non-toxic n Stickers n no visible traces of glue n no skin defects n Free of all foreign matter 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 43

V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION C. Presentation. 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 44

VI. PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKING n Identification n Nature of Produce n Origin of Produce n Commercial Specification n Official Control Mark (optional) 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 45

VI. PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKING 19 -Mar-18 Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 46

Certificates for fresh produce used in international trade Control Certificate (conformity with quality • standards) Phytosanitary Certificate (conformity with • plant health requirements) Organic Produce Certificate (conformity with • organic standards) Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 47

12. The above mentioned inspection body certifies, following inspection by sampling, that the above mentioned goods correspond at the time of inspection to the quality standard in force PPIS Inspection certificate Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 48

Quality inspection in Israel Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 49

The responsible body for application of quality standards is the Plant Protection and Inspection Services (PPIS) All quality inspection duties are carried out by the Inspection Service for Horticultural Products which is part of the Plant Protection and Inspection Services (PPIS) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 50

PPIS inspection points ØSea and air terminals ØTransit stations ØPacking houses (to a certain extent) Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 51

Export to various destinations Only produce found to be in conformity with the standard can be shipped to export destinations Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 52

Measures taken in case of non compliance with the standard n Rejection of the produce as unfit for export n Downgrading (normally from class I to class II) n Resorting or repacking n Destruction n Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 53

Essential factors for inspection bodies • Need for supportive legislation • Uniformity of Inspection (harmonization) • Objectivity of Inspectors • Skill and knowledge of inspectors • Budget (cost recovery) Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 54

Harmonization of inspection Can be achieved by: • Training of inspectors • Using objective methods for determining quality • Using visual aids (photos, color charts) • Providing good working environment (well lit and equipped inspection station) • Computer technology (photos over internet) Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 55

Training of inspectors Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 56

Using objective methods Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 57

Firmness test Penetrometer Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 58

Weighing Scales 10 kg scales with accuracy level of 10 gr. for weighing cartons • 2 kg scales with accuracy level of 1 gr for weighing individual fruits • Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 59

Using visual aids Visual aids – color chart Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 60

Color chart for sweetie Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 61

Visual aids (photos) Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 62

Good working environment Inspection of table grapes Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 63

Inspection table bright light Means for communication Wide clean inspection table (white or stainless steel) Clean working area Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 64

Lighting Bright light of white and yellow fluorescent • Natural light • Magnifying glass • Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 65

Temperature reading Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 66

methods of inspection n Inspection along the production line n End Point inspection n Quality Assurance System n Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 67

methods of inspection Inspection along the production line Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 68

Indicating the sample with a sticker סימון דגימה Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 69

End- point inspection Taking a sample for inspection from a palette Plant Protection & Inspection Services Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development 70

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