Food Safety, Total Compliance with Maximum Pesticides Residue Levels mandated by the Food Safety Authorities and 100% Plot-to-Box Traceability are the biggest concerns of any European buyer today. EurepGap Compliance, Due Diligence and Compliance with packhouse management standards like BRC-Food, complete back-up documentation are being insisted upon by produce buyers. Product Quality has become a very basic essential pre-requisite, rather than a competitive advantage.

The Indian Table Grapes Export Industry is indeed justifiably proud about the significant steps and order of magnitude changes initiated by key players like Euro Fruits in Season 2004 with highly controlled operations, full traceability, EurepGap certifications etc. Season 2004 performance indeed helped European buyers renewing their faith and confidence in Indian industry in general and players like Euro Fruits in particular.

We consider the table grape export operations in India at the consolidation phase for the forthcoming season with widespread EurepGap compliance, documented traceability as industry practice etc.

Euro Fruits has already identified the drivers for the emerging phase in the form of implementation of BRC-Food Standards, Ethical Trading Initiative; Bar Coding based traceability systems, compliance with Dutch Hygiene Code standards, value added EurepGap initiatives based on global best practices, demonstrated commitment to linking environment and farming, benchmarking packhouse practices against International Food Standard etc. etc.

As usual, Euro Fruits is marching on the path so far not traversed by any player in the Indian table grape export industry.