Key points
- Certifications and traceability are table stakes — verify them, don't accept screenshots.
- Consistent communication before the sale predicts service after it.
- A supplier's claims process matters more than their promises.
1. Certifications and compliance
Ask for GlobalG.A.P. or equivalent farm certification, export licences, and recent phytosanitary and MRL test records. Reliable suppliers keep these current and share them freely.
2. Product consistency
One good sample means nothing. Ask how grading is controlled at the packhouse, request pre-shipment photos of every consignment, and start with a trial order to test consistency across several shipments.
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3. Communication
Measure response time and specificity during your enquiry stage. A supplier who answers detailed questions quickly and precisely before the sale will almost always perform the same way after it.
4. Packaging capability
Your market's packaging rules — materials, labelling, barcodes, carton specs — should already be familiar territory. A supplier learning them on your shipment is a risk.
5. Export experience on your route
Ask which airlines and routings they use to your destination, typical transit times, and how they handle delays and cold room bookings. Route-specific experience is hard to fake.
6. Traceability
Every carton should trace back to a farm and harvest date. This protects you in food-safety audits and is increasingly demanded by retailers and regulators.
7. A fair claims process
Agree upfront how quality claims are documented and settled — photos on arrival, timelines, and credit or replacement terms. Reliable suppliers propose this themselves.
Start your first shipment
Message us on WhatsApp or email our sourcing team. We will confirm availability, packing options and pricing for your market.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the single most important supplier check?
- A paid trial shipment. It tests grading, packing, documentation and communication in one real transaction — no document or video call can replace it.
- How many suppliers should I use per product?
- Most importers keep a primary supplier plus a vetted backup. A sourcing agent with several audited farms effectively gives you both through one contact.
- What is a red flag when choosing a supplier?
- Resistance to verification, pressure for full prepayment, vague answers about packhouse and freight, and prices far below the market — each one is reason to slow down or walk away.