The Staay Food Group has had a strong presence in the import of Costa Rican melons for many years. Costa Rica is currently experiencing hotter, drier weather due to the effects of El Niño. Despite this, the supply of melons, including watermelons is and is expected to remain, on track at this company.
"The watermelons, Yellow Honey Dew, and Galia melons we have thus far received are of very high quality. They also have a good shelf life. The Cantaloupes are already underway per ship," says Rob Bras. He is the Account Manager for melons at Staay-Hispa. Staay-Hispa is the main sourcing link in the Staay Food Group's network.
Melons are one of Staay's main specialties. "The large European retailers have been able to build on Staay's expertise for years now," says Rob.
"This is thanks to the consistent quality, good appearance, stable supply, and transparency of the melon chain. Everything is set up in such a way that our clients can always count on agreed-upon programs to be honored."
Local involvement
The Staay Food Group works with six farms in Costa Rica. Here, melons are grown exclusively for them. These farms are spread over four cultivation areas - Parrita, Orotina, Guanacaste, and Bajo Capulin. This diversification makes for risk distribution as well as the reliability of supply.
SFG Dulce, Staay's Costa Rican branch, coordinates and inspects the local situation. This means the group can directly supervise the situation on the ground. SFG Dulce has agriculturalists who specialize in melons. These experts work closely with the growers as well as well-known seed companies such as Rijk Zwaan. They inspect the cultivation and test new varieties every year.
Staay's packs only melons from their own fields. Nothing is bought from third parties. "We can, therefore, guarantee 100% traceability," explains Rob. "Our product comes directly from the source. We have complete control over production and logistics."
Sustainability and CSR
The Staay Food Group has always played a leading role in the area of sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Costa Rica. Staay-Hispa was the first organization to import Rainforest Alliance (RFA) certified pineapples from Costa Rica in 2007. Since 2015, this company has been doing the same with the first Rainforest Alliance certified melons.
At the end of last year, Brazilian RFA certified melons were added. Staay's Costa Rican employees see to it that the various certifications are not just rubber stamps. They make certain that, in practice, all the requirements of the certification are met. "This ensures optimal transparency and security for our clients," concludes Rob.
For more information:
Rob Bras
Staay-Hispa B.V.
Tel: +31 (0) 180 679 100
Rob.Bras@staay-hispa.nl
www.staay.nl