The quality assurance inspections conducted on the other regulated local produced and imported fresh fruits, vegetables by Prokon inspectors during the past three years, afforded the company the ideal platform to gained valuable broad-based experience and product knowledge to refine the inspection process to the benefit of all stakeholder in the fresh produce supply chain. The exposure allowed Prokon the ability to identify the primary participants in the fresh produce flow channel, and thus inspection points, as fresh produce markets (handling approximately 47% of all fresh produce and accommodate all spectrum of buyers), distribution centres to retail outlets as well as independent packers and pack houses. These points were also identified as the most cost effective for the supply chain as a whole, as well as the fact that it allows for the optimal use of resources.

However, as fresh produce markets and distributions centres handle the bulk of fresh produce in terms of, e.g., variety, quality and classes the higher percentage of inspections are conducted at these points. It follows that the number of downgrades and directives are issued on fresh produce markets closely followed by distribution centres /retails outlets. It is important that the issuing of directives should not be seen as a penalisation of the suppliers, but rather as a way to assist them to identify and address the problem to their benefit (better price). Through analysing our data Prokon has detected a real improvement in the quality and adherence to marking requirements in the market environment.