By Frutta Group — — 5 min read
Shoppers expect most fruit on the shelf all year. For a retailer, that means sourcing across hemispheres and working with suppliers thousands of kilometres away.
These are the considerations that most often decide whether an international program works on the shelf.
Seasonality and transitions
Continuity usually depends on moving between origins. The critical moments are the transitions — when one origin is finishing and the next is starting — because quality and volume are least predictable then. Plan transitions deliberately and agree overlap periods with suppliers.
Shelf life starts at harvest
Transit time, cold-chain continuity and post-harvest handling at origin determine how many days the fruit will last in store. A cheaper origin with a longer transit can cost more once shrink is counted.
A specification suppliers can meet
Retail specifications are often written for the domestic crop. Check that varieties, calibres and colour standards are achievable at the international origin, and agree tolerances before the season.
Certifications and compliance
- Food safety and good agricultural practice certifications required by your business
- Social compliance standards
- Maximum residue limits in the destination market
- Phytosanitary requirements for the origin–destination pair
Program structure
Fixed-price programs, weekly pricing, and minimum guarantees each allocate risk differently between retailer and supplier. The right structure depends on the category, the volatility of the market and how much certainty each side needs.
Diversification
Relying on a single origin or supplier concentrates weather, logistics and political risk. A second origin — even at a smaller volume — gives you options when the first underperforms.