Unsure how a shipment should be structured?
Choosing the wrong Incoterm, missing a phytosanitary requirement, or letting documents flow in the wrong order can cost more than the margin on the load.
Rules differ by origin, destination and product — and they change.
How Frutta Group helps
We review how your operation is or should be structured and advise on the commercial and documentary side, drawing on day-to-day experience with shipment tracking, documentation control and payment follow-up.
Incoterms in fresh produce
Incoterms decide where risk and cost pass from seller to buyer. In perishable trade that point matters more than usual, because the fruit’s condition can change in transit. FOB and FCA leave the buyer responsible for the main carriage; CFR and CIF shift freight (and, for CIF, insurance) to the seller while risk still passes at origin; DAP and DDP put more responsibility on the seller at destination. The right choice depends on who controls the cold chain and who can insure it best.
Phytosanitary and border requirements
Most destination markets require a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country and may inspect fruit at the border. Some origin–destination combinations require cold treatment, fumigation or systems approaches at origin. In the European Union, plant-health checks take place at the border control post of first entry, while customs clearance can follow a separate process — a distinction that matters when fruit enters in one member state and is sold in another.
Where deals usually go wrong
Documents that do not match each other, a bill of lading issued to the wrong party, a phytosanitary certificate missing a required declaration, payment terms that release goods before payment — these are common and avoidable. A short review before the first shipment often prevents the most expensive mistakes.
The Frutta Group approach
- 01
Review the trade
Product, route, parties, current or proposed terms.
- 02
Identify requirements and risks
Import and export requirements, documents, inspection points and payment exposure.
- 03
Recommend
A clear structure: Incoterms, document flow, payment terms and responsibilities.
Topics we advise on
- Incoterms and risk transfer
- Commercial terms and payment structures
- Documentation and document flow (including bills of lading)
- Phytosanitary and border control requirements
- Import requirements by destination
- Export processes by origin
- Supply chain and cold-chain coordination
What you get
- A trade structure you understand and can defend
- Fewer document and compliance surprises
- Clear allocation of risk between parties
Tell us about the product, origin, market and volume you have in mind.
Request a consultationFrequently asked questions
Are you a customs broker or lawyer?
No. We advise on the commercial and operational structure of fresh produce trade. For customs filings or legal opinions we work alongside your customs broker and legal advisers.
Can you help with shipments into the EU?
Yes. We have hands-on experience with fruit programs into the European Union, including the phytosanitary and border control steps that apply at first point of entry.