March is expected to be a tense month for the Greek kiwi industry, according to Mr. Christos Paschalidis, owner of the reefer container service and handling company C. Paschalidis Co. "Each season, we take measures to always have some containers standing by in order to meet sudden needs that may arise in the fruit and vegetable trade. Normally, we don't use all of this stock, but this March, things are going to be different. We expect an increased influx of requests from kiwi suppliers, and I think that we will use all of our reserves."
"Our company has two teams of reefer container engineers stationed permanently in Piraeus and Thessaloniki, who are in constant communication with the fruit suppliers. This season, we are warned about the limited durability of kiwifruit inside the cooling chambers, and we expect exporters to try to sell their stocks no later than the end of March, otherwise, they will face significant losses. That's why we have secured containers for sudden extra requests from kiwi suppliers during March. I think they are already rushing to sell their stock," the Greek entrepreneur says.
Mr. Paschalidis's duty is to provide clean, ready-to-use containers to fruit suppliers and secure the cold treatment process. "Our job is much more complicated than it seems. It's not just a technical issue, resolved by attending technical seminars of container construction companies. We have to be aware of the peculiarities of each season, such as the limited durability of kiwifruit, in order to always be able to meet clients' needs. Our clients are maritime companies. They are the ones who receive requests from the exporters."
"However, we also have to know the specific needs of each fruit supplier, whose products we are handling. We apply a personalized approach and follow more than strict rules to secure the quality of the products. Even the temperature sensors we put in the fruits are sterilized to avoid contamination during shipment," he adds.
The Greek entrepreneur has been dealing with kiwifruit for the last 25 years and has seen great improvements since then. As he says: "Bearing in mind what we and other companies observe, I would say that there is a 5% year-on-year increase in the Greek kiwifruit trade during the last seasons. Kavala and Pieria are where the greatest expansion of kiwifruit is noted. However, there are also significant quality improvements. Eight out of ten Greek packing plants are equipped with modern technology, capable of meeting the strictest quality standards, like those set by the New York market."
For more information:
Christos Paschalidis
C. Paschalidis Co
Tel: +30 210 400 6671
Email: [email protected]
