Export Quality Standards for Fresh Produce: The Basics

Exporting is not just about growing well — it is about growing to specification. Every market has size grades, colour standards, tolerance thresholds, and cold-chain requirements.

The four pillars

• •Grade: uniform size and appearance per market spec
• •Residue: below the destination country's MRLs
• •Cold chain: correct temperature from harvest to arrival
• •Documentation: certificates, traceability, and inspection reports

Start with the buyer

Export specifications come from the buyer and destination market — not from general knowledge. Confirm the contract spec, the MRL list for that country, and the required certificates before you plant. A crop grown blind to specification never finds the premium.