Canada: Global Fruit anticipate big cherry crop

With cool days and even cooler nights continuing through May and into June, Canadian company, Global Fruit are expecting a delayed start domestic shipping in 3-4 weeks. "Through the Osoyoos and Oliver regions, there is an abundant amount of cherries on the trees after drop, along with impeccable spacing. Based on this assessment we are anticipating a large crop with excellent sizing not only in these areas but right across all three of BC's growing regions," explains Andre Bailey. Based on recent sampling, export varieties are expected to begin harvest between July 12th -15th and better sizing than last season is expected.

GlobalGAP Audits Start June 17th
All of Global Fruit’s Growers and packinghouses will be undergoing their annual Global Good Agricultural Practices Audits at the end of June. The GLOBALG.A.P standard ensures consumers about how food is produced on the farm by minimizing detrimental environmental impacts of farming operations, reducing the use of chemical inputs and ensuring a responsible approach to worker health and safety. There is also a Produce Handling addendum to ensure harvest and post harvest handling meet the Food Safety’s Best Practices.

"While most partner growers have been GlobalGAP certified for many years, four years ago Global Fruit took the position that we will only partner with Grower’s and Packer’s committed to maintaining this worldwide standard which is recognized in over 80 countries. All of our partner Packinghouses and partner Growers complete and maintain 100% compliance with GlobalGAP and complete the Produce Handling addendum. SGS Canada will be administering the audits this season." For more info www.globalgap.org

The Cool Chain
One of the most vital parts of properly packing cherries is the art of proper cooling. Without rapid cooling, the shelf life is vastly affected. Ideally, once the cherries have been picked they should be cooled to 7 degrees C, before entering the sorting area. Once the sorting of the fruit begins, the cherries are hydro-cooled down to almost 0 degrees C by being immersed or sprayed by ultra chilled water. Global Fruit prides itself in packing and shipping using first rate facilities that have a secure cool chain. From harvest to the shelf, the temperature of the cherries drops and is maintained at zero degrees Celsius to ensure the longest shelve life for our customers.

Global Fruit Brokers was established in 2004 and incorporated in 2005. "We have grown each year and now market 3,300,000kg of the finest and latest Canadian Cherries all over the globe. Prior to last season we adopted the operating name of Global Fruit as we feel that this is a more accurate depiction of our company. We are not "buy/resell" brokers."

The company provides Direct Marketing services for the small "boutique" Canadian Orchardists and our grower's quality shows in every box. They exported over 2,000,000kg last season everywhere from the United States of America, Asia, the EU to Russia and the Baltic States and with new plantings increasing each year the volume will double over the next 5 years.

"Our goal is a "perfect pack" every time and a "perfect match" for every market. We are very proud of our Grower's commitment to sustainable agricultural procedures and only work with Growers who maintain the GlobalGAP standard and certification in their Orchards and in their Packinghouses."

For more information:
Andre Bailey
Global Fruit
Tel: 1-866-428-2320 (North America)
001-250-428-2320 (International)
www.canadiancherries.com