Process
At the moment of cutting bananas, the bunch is "calibrated" by measuring the diameter and length of the middle finger of the second hand. For harvest, the fruit is cut in a "V", it means at side of the stem of the plant. In this way, the bunch goes down slowly, by supporting the descent with the billhook and calculating to be placed at the shoulder height of the carrier.The cradle charger must be kept clean so as not to spoil the bunch that rests on the shoulder.
It has a distance around established a distance of 50 meters until come to the ropeway batch cutting. Longer distances increase fruit spoiling. Before hanging the cluster, the rachis has to be covered with plastic, so that the cut made during harvesting has not have spilled latex over the fruit.
During transport in the cable path, the clusters are moved with a protective pad between the hands so that they do not rub against each other. In addition, to avoid spoiling between those separators are used.
Once that the clusters are received, we do evaluation about quality of the fruit, getting a sample of 8% in order to determine the calibration, weight, size and any type of defect that can damage the quality. Defects are graded as mild, moderate and severe.
We do a quality report as from the plantation, not only in the packing plant. It goes according to the care given since the field. We have in mind that if our fruit is excellent upon receipt, it will be the same quality at the packaging moment.
The hands counting and calibration (check grade and almond) in the packing process allow firming and select harvested fruits.
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The Deflowering is the removal of the dried flowers that are on the tip of the banana. It starts with the lower hand. This is done with the fingers, without using rags or polyethylene.
An important aspect when receiving of the fruit is the washing under heavy pressure to clean excess harvest hands and eliminate the presence of insects besides prevent fingers from getting stained by fresh latex.
Banana dehanding consist in separate the hands of the rachis, for which we use two basic tools: "the curved and spoon or spatula big ridge", for which we take one by one the hands, then put them in tubs of trimming to proceed with the selection in which fingers are discarded as unfit
Each hand is carefully washed and selected to set quality standards. Very small hands, deformed or defective such as spoiling, scratches, damage caused by insects or other presentation that make weaken in more than two fingers are not allowed. Using very sharp curved knives is arranged any damage to the crown.
Washing the fruit is mainly based on latex and removal impurities, whereby in both water tubs, should be kept permanently running water with installations that ensure a steady flow throughout the process.
This helps remove crowns latex caused by the cuts made during the selection of the fruit. The clusters must take a tour from the beginning of the tub to the weighing area, in this way; the clusters must remain submerged with the crown down so that the crown removes the latex. The weaning of the bananas should run in a time of between 15-17 minutes. To reduce excess latex in this tub washing, do dispersant application of implements latex.
We placed the fruits on trays in such a way that the weighed holds fruit combined according to the type of packaging. Permanently, the balance is checked in order to reach the right weight. The clusters or hands selection for the weighing is indirectly the latest fruit revision.
Then the fruit proceed to be labeled before disinfection.
After filling the trays and the respective labeling, a chemical treatment is necessary to prevent post-harvest diseases, particularly crown rot and mold. It consists placing all crowns and cuts made during the selection process at spray fungicide, combined with a scar healing.
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The packaging of the fruit is done in corrugated boxes elaborated according to suitable dimensions and specifications, having in mind the packing weight, transit time and consumer market condition. A box consists of "Fund" and "Cover".
To protect the fruit, the polyethylene is used in the following common ways:
1. Perforated foil
2. Pack polytube or perforated pipe
3. Cases without drilling
4. Individual coping or Cluster Pack.
For making a good packaging system, the operator receives the trays with an appropriate distribution of the fruit by size and has always on hand radios apart for being communicated. The packaging is in the correct place of the clusters or hands inside the cardboard box, it should follow a pattern that is known as packaging lines.
Overall packing pattern used by the majority of distributors is:
• First Row: Clusters small planes (with the crown to the packer)
• Second Row: Clusters medium semicurvos or curved
(unlike the packer crown)
• Third Row: Clusters long shots
• Fourth Row: Clusters long curved
After this sleeves proceed to be dried and tied.
For making a good packaging system, the operator receives the trays with an appropriate distribution of the fruit by size and has always on hand radios apart for being communicated. The packaging is in the correct place of the clusters or hands inside the cardboard box, it should follow a pattern that is known as packaging lines.
Finally, we have to set up the cap but carefully matching the ventilation holes and the top. When we finalize the packaging, the last line must be in one level preventing the box bulges causing damage to the fruit.
Our bananas are selected, washed, treated, and packed carefully in a clean and healthy environment, keeping good presentation for our customers. For packaging we use carton box of 19.5 KG net weight also of 13.5 KG net weight according to the market and the client?s needs, and then the bananas will be stuffed in reefer containers 40ft and shipped to our potential customers.
The quality of our fruit is our best presentation, this wholesome fruit, is packed with hygienically and special care to export our product. Our bananas have all necessary certification prior to shipping as a final check ensuring the best quality and freshness to the customer.
Our professional personal check all steps to keep excellent quality of our fruit. Our qualified technicians inspect farms before and during packing and also examine production areas to be sure to have nutritive fruit.
We know how important your time, for that is we take care about all documents; you can obtain the following complete documentation:
•Shipping Document (Bill of lading)
•Certificate of Origin
•Phytosanitary Certificate
•Original Invoice
•Packing List
•Quality Report
•Telex Release if it’s necessary
Note: All original documents will be sent via international courier.
cut and cluster
evaluation and cualification
deflowering and wash
dehanding
selection, washing, sanity
rinse
weight and labeling
desinfection
packaging
packaging details
quality
documents
The cultivation process of the goodLiFE bananas.
We have a strong knowledgeable technical team whom carefully verifies that each farm reach the accomplishment with the optimal conditions for the bananas production. They are to keep a good crop management with an efficient and technical control of the Black Sigatoka (disease that affects the quality of the fruit and is caused by fungus), for that they taking care the place where the fruit is going to be cut.
After the area’s survey report, we proceed to order cutting the fruit. The fruit and products to be used for treatment must accomplish with specifications of quality parameters.
During the cutting fruit days, field technicians visit each banana packing in order to verify the quality of the fruit that is being cut. Processing and packaging, they establish corrective actions immediately, when it's necessary.