Fruit approval

RECEPTION OF THE FRUIT

To produce a good purée with good fruit is not as easy as it sounds, although it is obvious that it is impossible to make a good purée with bad fruit. Accepting only the best fruit is a vital step in the creation of our products ; it allows us to ensure that each batch is perfectly homogeneous and that all the quality specifications are met.

The parameters we consider are drawn up in collaboration with the growers and are classified depending on their importance for the finished product.
It should be noted that this method of working is not required by any legislation. It is simply that we believe this to be an essential step if we are to ensure the highest possible quality of the finished product.

It is evident that the criteria that will be applied to a fruit destined to be frozen whole (IQF) will be different from those applied to a fruit that will be turned into a purée. Consequently the specifications that we have drawn up are also different.

 

Example : a white peach, destined to be made into a purée.
Once the quality specifications have been agreed with the grower, the fruit is picked and on reception, samples from each batch are subjected to the following battery of tests:
 

  • Initial checks on reception of the batch:
    • the overall visual aspect (to ensure the absence of foreign bodies or signs of disease)
    • the taste,
    • the size of the fruits (a minimum size is written into the technical specifications ; larger peaches are preferable as their Brix value will be greater) ;

 

 

  • Tests carried out after the sample has been puréed :
    • checks for colour (Minolta),
    • checks for the viscosity,
    • checks for the sugar content (Brix),
    • acidity check.

Only when these checks have been carried out and approved by the quality control laboratory as to their perfect conformity to specifications, can the fruit be accepted and authorisation given for the batch to enter our stock. Each batch is noted and graded with a view to obtaining the best possible mix when the batches are used.