three essential attributes to demand of your fruit and vegetable ingredient supplier

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1 three essential attributes to demand of your fruit and vegetable ingredient supplier

2 Portfolio and price may be high on your agenda, but when it comes to sourcing fruit and vegetable ingredients, the success of your business relies on the added value they can provide. Here are the top three factors to look out for when selecting suppliers. With governments and health organisations putting the spotlight on fruit and vegetable consumption as a central part of a healthy lifestyle, consumers around the world are looking for products that can help them integrate vitamins, minerals and fibre easily into their diets. As a consequence, to boost the natural profile of their products and attract even the most health-conscious consumers, more and more food and drink manufacturers are looking to increase the amount of both new and traditional fruit and vegetable ingredients in their formulations. Whether it s including fruit puree concentrate in dairy products or lowering the sugar content of soft drinks by adding vegetable juice, fruit and vegetable ingredients are at the heart of healthier reformulation. But just adding a fruit or vegetable ingredient is not enough to create added value, premium products for today s discerning consumer. When it comes to fruit and vegetables, real added value means providing natural, nutritious, safe and tasteful ingredients with clear sourcing credentials. Price and product range are just two of the factors to take into account when choosing a supplier. Full supply chain control, agronomy expertise and real commitment to sustainability, combined with high quality ingredients, can make a real difference to product success.

3 1 chain agro-supply control To avoid risks, producers should look to partner with a reliable fruit and vegetable ingredient supplier that can guarantee full control of the agro-supply chain. To keep up with the ever growing consumer demand for healthy, safe and traceable products, the food and beverage sector relies heavily on the timely supply of ingredients and raw materials that consistently comply with the specifications required. Safety and traceability can only be achieved and guaranteed with strict controls, but these can be challenging in today s fast-moving, globalised agro-supply chain. Reliable supply When dealing with food and drink production, the perishable nature of most ingredients makes timely supply essential. Even a small delay in the supply chain can have a significant impact on productivity and efficiency. To avoid any interruptions to production and to guarantee consistency of quality, most food and beverage manufacturers have specific agreements with their suppliers to ensure the smooth running of operations. When working with fruit and vegetable ingredients, however, unexpected natural events and crop fluctuations can impact the supply of raw materials. Events like drought, flood or a particularly cold winter can delay ripening or drastically reduce crop volumes, causing shortages, price fluctuations and disruptions to the production cycle. To avoid such risks, producers should look to partner with a reliable fruit and vegetable ingredient supplier that can guarantee full control of the agro-supply chain, and therefore prevent and limit any losses caused by unexpected events. If a drought is affecting red fruit or vegetable growers, such suppliers can support farmers to adapt their hydration and draining techniques before it is too late. Long-term contracting can also help avoid volatility as it ensures price stability and volume security during times of fluctuating yields.

4 1 chain agro-supply control Safety and traceability Being able to trace ingredients back to a specific farmer, field or region provides confidence and enables manufacturers to prove their products are fully traceable and safe. Knowing the origins of our food has become more important than ever before. There is a need for producers to be able to state categorically where their ingredients come from. Traceability is a hot but enduring topic, linked with safety and clean labelling, so manufacturers must be able to rely on their ingredient suppliers to help them meet these consumer-driven demands. Ensuring every step of the supply chain is tightly controlled and visible is paramount to reassuring consumers about the provenance of fruit and vegetable ingredients. After numerous food safety scares, recalls and questions about authenticity, traceability has become a cornerstone of brand protection and an absolute requisite when working with leading retailers and food outlets. Regular monitoring of fields is essential to guaranteeing quality and real traceability of these ingredients, from seed to final puree or concentrate. Being able to trace them back to a specific farmer, field or region not only provides confidence, it also gives manufacturers a chance to position their products as fully traceable and safe. Working with an ingredient supplier with full visibility and control of the agro-supply chain gives peace of mind that every step of the process, from seed selection to processing and transport, has been closely monitored for safety, authenticity and compliance.

5 2 agronomy expertise Expert agronomists working for ingredient suppliers can help select the best fruit and vegetable varieties in relation to growing conditions, customer requirements and processing needs. Close control of the supply chain is only one of the key aspects to look out for in a reliable ingredient supplier. Producing high-quality ingredients, carefully chosen for a specific application or market, also requires a deep knowledge of agronomy. The very foundation of fruit and vegetable production, agronomy is a science that goes far beyond the few widely-known notions of agriculture. Supporting farmers throughout the year, expert agronomists working for ingredient suppliers can help select the best fruit and vegetable varieties in relation to growing conditions, customer requirements and processing needs. From advice on the responsible use of pesticides and fertilizers through to reviving tried and tested farming techniques, agronomists take a conscientious approach to sharing best practice. Training projects such as crop management programmes are designed to ensure the very best growing and harvest conditions. Agronomy teams are ideally placed to educate, inform and assist farmers in achieving the highest quality and best yield. Best quality Growing high quality, nutritious and tasty fresh produce requires a deep understanding of many factors, soil being one of the most important. Through a detailed soil analysis, expert agronomists can evaluate whether its nutrient content is adequate for specific plants, and adapt farming practices accordingly. Increasing soil micro life, for example, can help replenish it with organic matter if it lacks essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium. Similarly, agronomists support farmers on the water needs of the plants and provide knowledge of efficient irrigation management based on soil moisture content, weather forecast and evapotranspiration. Carrots grown on a black rich soil will have different feeding requirements than those grown in sandy, chalky soil.

6 2 agronomy expertise Regulatory compliance Pesticides and fertilisers, a common feature of many agricultural business, are subject to increasingly strict regulation. The use of pesticides and fertilisers is a common practice in agriculture to boost soil s nutritional profile and keep plants free from diseases. With new formulations constantly being introduced in the market, governmental institutions work hard to allay consumer concerns about the safety and environmental impact of growing crops and as a consequence, fertilisers and pesticides are subject to increasingly strict regulatory frameworks. Every business in the food supply chain must be able to rely on its suppliers to comply with the latest regulations. Ingredient suppliers, in turn, need expert agronomists to keep abreast of policy and regulatory development and to create and deploy fertiliser programmes that meet both the needs of the crop and the latest regulations. As such, the collaboration between farmers and agronomists is critical not only to ensure best practice, but also to make sure harvesting techniques and fertilising procedures are aligned with the latest innovations and regulations. Working closely with farmers and complementing their knowledge with tailored training sessions, specialised agronomists act as supervisors for fruit or vegetable production, working to maximise crop quality and maintain standards. Agricultural advancements Researching new technologies and advancements in agriculture practices to ensure high quality crop is an integral part of an agronomist s job. Scientific agricultural knowledge plays a significant part in the ability of fruit and vegetable processors to remain at the forefront of their industry. Leading ingredient suppliers also have close relationships with academic research centres and specialist seed breeders to drive research into fruit and vegetable variety development and improving cultivation methods. In ingredient processing, this scientific approach not only ensures best raw materials, it also helps in selecting the best variety for a specific puree or concentrate. The sensory properties of a juice drink, for example, can change according to the variety of strawberry used. Optimal sugar content, colour shade and intensity of flavour are essential to maintain production standards and to guarantee consistency in the end product. This consistency can only be obtained if the same variety of strawberry is used all along within a particular season. Choosing the best raw material starts with seed and variety selection. Deciding which raspberry seed will give the best quality harvest, on a certain soil and in the required quantities requires knowledge that only expert agronomists can provide. For example, Willamette, Polka and Polana are the raspberry varieties most widely used in the food industry, but Poemat and Polesie bear the largest fruits and Polonez has a lighter red colour, which might be more appropriate for certain applications.

7 3 sustainable practices Sustainability encompasses many diverse activities and is now an essential requirement of businesses wishing to supply leading retailers and food outlets. As consumer preferences change, what was once considered an adding-value claim is increasingly seen as an essential need. Through all categories and price points, there is a shift towards ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients. Concern for environmental and social sustainability has created a real push for food and beverage manufacturers to partner with suppliers that can ensure sustainability throughout all practices. Founded on strong supply chain management, sustainability encompasses many diverse activities that promote sustainable farming practices as well as economic and environmental sustainability. Manufacturers looking to gain the trust of committed consumers should look for suppliers that encourage sustainable agriculture, including crop rotation and pest management for instance, but also seek longer term and holistic benefits such as optimal biodiversity and prolonged soil yield. Responsible farming Implementing initiatives to encourage responsible farming and a better use of natural resources through revitalising tried and trusted practices is one of the pillars of maximising sustainability. Crop rotation, for example, is a technique used to maintain the long-term sustainability of soil. Growing the same crop for several seasons can reduce the amount of nutrients and alternating crops is essential to maintaining nutrient balance, help reduce soil erosion and increase fertility and crop yield. Leading suppliers also actively encourage farmers to participate in external initiatives that minimise the need for insecticides through increasing the local bee population. For example, this can be done by applying a flower planting scheme that stimulates crop pollination while simultaneously reducing the insect population. In one of Europe s major fruit-growing regions, The Ornithological Society of Lublin collaborates with the ingredient supplier SVZ in a project to protect endangered bats in order to stimulate biodiversity and naturally help control the insect population which can also reduce the need for chemical insecticides. Resource management Waste management and valorisation are at the base of all sustainable initiatives. Increasing efficiency, which revolves around supply chain control and productive operations, takes a number of formats, including minimising loss, extracting more value from waste products and reducing dependency on fossil fuels. Most of the waste generated by fruit and vegetable suppliers is organic and seeking new ways to ensure waste material feeds back into new products or is used for alternative purposes is essential to ensuring long-term sustainability. Surplus fruit and vegetable hulls and residue can be used as animal feed and as compost to produce fertiliser for farming.

8 3 sustainable practices SVZ s rich heritage in agronomy, supply chain expertise and commitment to sustainability mean it is uniquely placed to offer significant added value as well as world-class ingredients. Processing fresh fruit and vegetables directly at source, wherever possible, can help reduce energy consumption by eliminating the requirement for freeze/thaw. Furthermore, on-site production minimises transportation and improves product quality and nutritional value. The benefits of resource management go beyond environmental advantages; it brings financial and qualitative improvements throughout the supply chain. Finding suppliers with strong and established sustainable credentials can be a challenge in today s marketplace. Looking at companies sustainable initiatives and memberships of relevant organisations can give reassurance of their commitment. Organisations like the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform represent a significant milestone in a supplier s commitment to sustainability. Some members are actively involved in a working group of food and drink companies, retailers and the WWF to improve water governance in a strawberry-growing region in Spain. The collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of sustainable and efficient practices for better water management by the area s farmers. A reliable supplier When it comes to fruit and vegetable ingredients producers, supply chain control, agronomy expertise and a commitment to sustainability are three closely-linked characteristics that differentiate leaders from the rest of the market. These are factors that can make a fundamental difference to their customers products, sales and reputations. As a company with a rich heritage in agronomy, SVZ understands the natural variability of harvest cycles and crop yield and ever-changing regulatory processes can make supply chain a real challenge. For this reason, the company has appointed a dedicated team of skilled agronomists who partner with growers to bring knowledge of best farming practice alongside the latest standards in cultivation, land management, food safety and regulatory advice. This close proximity with the growers in the field early in the supply chain allows greater visibility and influence over how the crops are treated right through harvest. The dedicated quality team operates to the same stringent, world-class standards across the whole business, regardless of the country or the factory where the fruit is being harvested or processed. It is fair to say that food manufacturers working with SVZ do so because they know the right quality controls are in place and, most importantly, that the raw materials sourced and supplied are traceable and safe. info@svz.com