three essential attributes to demand of your fruit and

vegetable ingredient supplier

With governments and health organisations putting the spotlight on

fruit and vegetable consumption as a central part of a healthy lifestyle,

consumers around the world are looking for products that can help them

integrate vitamins, minerals and fibre easily into their diets. As a

consequence, to boost the natural profile of their products and attract

even the most health-conscious consumers, more and more food and

drink manufacturers are looking to increase the amount of both new

and traditional fruit and vegetable ingredients in their formulations.

Whether it’s including fruit puree concentrate in dairy products or lowering

the sugar content of soft drinks by adding vegetable juice, fruit and

vegetable ingredients are at the heart of healthier reformulation. But just

adding a fruit or vegetable ingredient is not enough to create added value,

premium products for today’s discerning consumer. When it comes to fruit

and vegetables, real added value means providing natural, nutritious, safe

and tasteful ingredients with clear sourcing credentials.

Price and product range are just two of the factors to

take into account when choosing a supplier.

Full supply chain control, agronomy expertise

and real commitment to

sustainability, combined with

high quality ingredients, can

make a real difference to

product success.

Portfolio and price may

be high on your agenda,

but when it comes to

sourcing fruit and

vegetable ingredients,

the success of your

business relies on the

added value they can

provide. Here are the

top three factors to

look out for when

selecting suppliers.

To keep up with the ever growing consumer demand for

healthy, safe and traceable products, the food and

beverage sector relies heavily on the timely supply of

ingredients and raw materials that consistently comply

with the specifications required. Safety and traceability

can only be achieved and guaranteed with strict controls,

but these can be challenging in today’s fast-moving,

globalised agro-supply chain.

Reliable supply

When dealing with food and drink production, the perishable nature of most ingredients makes

timely supply essential. Even a small delay in the supply chain can have a significant impact on

productivity and efficiency. To avoid any interruptions to production and to guarantee consistency

of quality, most food and beverage manufacturers have specific agreements with their suppliers to

ensure the smooth running of operations.

When working with fruit and vegetable ingredients, however, unexpected natural events and crop

fluctuations can impact the supply of raw materials. Events like drought, flood or a particularly cold

winter can delay ripening or drastically reduce crop volumes, causing shortages, price fluctuations

and disruptions to the production cycle.

To avoid such risks, producers should look to partner with a reliable fruit and vegetable ingredient

supplier that can guarantee full control of the agro-supply chain, and therefore prevent and limit any

losses caused by unexpected events. If a drought is affecting red fruit or vegetable growers, such

suppliers can support farmers to adapt their hydration and draining techniques before it is too late.

Long-term contracting can also help avoid volatility as it ensures price stability and volume security

during times of fluctuating yields.

agro-supply chain control 1

To avoid risks, producers

should look to partner

with a reliable fruit and

vegetable ingredient

supplier that can

guarantee full control of

the agro-supply chain.

Safety and traceability

Knowing the origins of our food has become more important than ever before. There is a need for

producers to be able to state categorically where their ingredients come from. Traceability is a hot

but enduring topic, linked with safety and clean

labelling, so manufacturers must be able to rely on

their ingredient suppliers to help them meet these

consumer-driven demands. Ensuring every step of

the supply chain is tightly controlled and visible

is paramount to reassuring consumers about the

provenance of fruit and vegetable ingredients.

agro-supply chain control 1

Being able to trace

ingredients back to a

specific farmer, field

or region provides

confidence and enables

manufacturers to prove

their products are fully

traceable and safe.

After numerous food safety scares, recalls and questions about authenticity, traceability has become a cornerstone of brand protection and an absolute requisite when working with leading retailers and food outlets.

Regular monitoring of fields is

essential to guaranteeing quality and

real traceability of these ingredients,

from seed to final puree or concentrate.

Being able to trace them back to a

specific farmer, field or region not

only provides confidence, it also gives

manufacturers a chance to position

their products as fully traceable and

safe. Working with an ingredient

supplier with full visibility and control

of the agro-supply chain gives peace

of mind that every step of the process,

from seed selection to processing and

transport, has been closely monitored

for safety, authenticity and compliance.

agronomy expertise2

Close control of the supply chain is only one of the key aspects to look out for in a reliable ingredient

supplier. Producing high-quality ingredients, carefully chosen for a specific application or market,

also requires a deep knowledge of agronomy.

The very foundation of fruit and vegetable

production, agronomy is a science that goes

far beyond the few widely-known notions of

agriculture. Supporting farmers throughout

the year, expert agronomists working for

ingredient suppliers can help select the best

fruit and vegetable varieties in relation to

growing conditions, customer requirements

and processing needs.

From advice on the responsible use of pesticides and fertilizers through to reviving tried and tested

farming techniques, agronomists take a conscientious approach to sharing best practice. Training

projects such as crop management programmes are designed to ensure the very best growing and

harvest conditions. Agronomy teams are ideally placed to educate, inform and assist farmers in

achieving the highest quality and best yield.

Best quality

Growing high quality, nutritious and tasty fresh produce requires a deep understanding of many

factors, soil being one of the most important. Through a detailed soil analysis, expert agronomists

can evaluate whether its nutrient content is adequate for specific plants, and adapt farming practices

accordingly. Increasing soil micro life, for example, can help replenish it with organic matter if it lacks

essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium.

Similarly, agronomists support farmers on the water needs of the plants and provide knowledge of efficient

irrigation management based on soil moisture content, weather forecast and evapotranspiration.

Expert agronomists

working for ingredient

suppliers can help

select the best fruit

and vegetable varieties

in relation to growing

conditions, customer

requirements and

processing needs.

Carrots grown on a black rich soil will have different feeding requirements than those grown in sandy, chalky soil.

agronomy expertise2

Regulatory compliance

The use of pesticides and fertilisers is a common practice in agriculture to boost soil’s nutritional

profile and keep plants free from diseases. With new formulations constantly being introduced in the

market, governmental institutions work hard to allay consumer concerns about the safety and

environmental impact of growing crops and as a consequence, fertilisers and pesticides are subject

to increasingly strict regulatory frameworks.

Every business in the food supply chain must be able to rely on its suppliers to comply with the

latest regulations. Ingredient suppliers, in turn, need expert agronomists to keep abreast of policy

and regulatory development and to create and deploy fertiliser programmes that meet both the

needs of the crop and the latest regulations.

As such, the collaboration between farmers and agronomists is critical not only to ensure best

practice, but also to make sure harvesting techniques and fertilising procedures are aligned with the

latest innovations and regulations. Working closely with farmers and complementing their knowledge

with tailored training sessions, specialised agronomists act as supervisors for fruit or vegetable

production, working to maximise crop quality and maintain standards.

Agricultural advancements

Researching new technologies and advancements in agriculture practices to ensure high quality crop is

an integral part of an agronomist’s job. Scientific agricultural knowledge plays a significant part in the

ability of fruit and vegetable processors to remain at the forefront of their industry. Leading ingredient

suppliers also have close relationships with academic research centres and specialist seed breeders to

drive research into fruit and vegetable variety development and improving cultivation methods.

In ingredient processing, this scientific approach not only ensures best raw materials, it also helps in

selecting the best variety for a specific puree or concentrate. The sensory properties of a juice drink,

for example, can change according to the variety of strawberry used. Optimal sugar content, colour

shade and intensity of flavour are essential to maintain production standards and to guarantee

consistency in the end product. This consistency can only be obtained if the same variety of

strawberry is used all along within a particular season.

Choosing the best raw material starts with seed

and variety selection. Deciding which raspberry

seed will give the best quality harvest, on a

certain soil and in the required quantities

requires knowledge that only expert agronomists

can provide. For example, Willamette, Polka and

Polana are the raspberry varieties most widely

used in the food industry, but Poemat and

Polesie bear the largest fruits and Polonez

has a lighter red colour, which might be more

appropriate for certain applications.

Pesticides and fertilisers,

a common feature of

many agricultural

business, are subject

to increasingly strict

regulation.

sustainable practices3

As consumer preferences change, what was once considered an adding-value claim is increasingly

seen as an essential need. Through all categories and price points, there is a shift towards ethically

and sustainably sourced ingredients. Concern for environmental and social sustainability has

created a real push for food and beverage manufacturers to partner with suppliers that can ensure

sustainability throughout all practices.

Founded on strong supply chain management, sustainability

encompasses many diverse activities that promote

sustainable farming practices as well as economic and

environmental sustainability. Manufacturers looking to

gain the trust of committed consumers should look for

suppliers that encourage sustainable agriculture, including

crop rotation and pest management for instance, but also

seek longer term and holistic benefits such as optimal

biodiversity and prolonged soil yield.

Responsible farming

Implementing initiatives to encourage responsible farming and a better use of natural resources

through revitalising tried and trusted practices is one of the pillars of maximising sustainability. Crop

rotation, for example, is a technique used to maintain the long-term sustainability of soil. Growing the

same crop for several seasons can reduce the amount of nutrients and alternating crops is essential

to maintaining nutrient balance, help reduce soil erosion and increase fertility and crop yield.

Leading suppliers also actively encourage farmers to participate in external initiatives that minimise

the need for insecticides through increasing the local bee population. For example, this can be done

by applying a flower planting scheme that stimulates crop pollination while simultaneously reducing

the insect population. In one of Europe’s major fruit-growing regions, The Ornithological Society of

Lublin collaborates with the ingredient supplier SVZ in a project to protect endangered bats in order

to stimulate biodiversity and naturally help control the insect population – which can also reduce the

need for chemical insecticides.

Resource management

Waste management and valorisation are at the base of all

sustainable initiatives. Increasing efficiency, which revolves

around supply chain control and productive operations, takes

a number of formats, including minimising loss, extracting

more value from waste products and reducing dependency on

fossil fuels. Most of the waste generated by fruit and vegetable

suppliers is organic and seeking new ways to ensure waste

material feeds back into new products or is used for alternative

purposes is essential to ensuring long-term sustainability.

Surplus fruit and vegetable hulls and residue can be used as

animal feed and as compost to produce fertiliser for farming.

Sustainability

encompasses many

diverse activities

and is now an essential

requirement of

businesses wishing to

supply leading retailers

and food outlets.

sustainable practices3

Processing fresh fruit and vegetables directly at source, wherever possible, can help reduce energy

consumption by eliminating the requirement for freeze/thaw. Furthermore, on-site production

minimises transportation and improves product quality and nutritional value. The benefits of

resource management go beyond environmental advantages; it brings financial and qualitative

improvements throughout the supply chain.

Finding suppliers with strong and established sustainable credentials can be a challenge in

today’s marketplace. Looking at companies’ sustainable initiatives and memberships of relevant

organisations can give reassurance of their commitment. Organisations like

the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform represent a significant

milestone in a supplier’s commitment to sustainability. Some members are

actively involved in a working group of food and drink companies, retailers and

the WWF to improve water governance in a strawberry-growing region in Spain.

The collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of sustainable and efficient practices for better

water management by the area’s farmers.

A reliable supplier

When it comes to fruit and vegetable ingredients producers, supply chain control, agronomy expertise

and a commitment to sustainability are three closely-linked characteristics that differentiate

leaders from the rest of the market. These are factors that can make a fundamental difference to

their customers’ products, sales and reputations.

As a company with a rich heritage in agronomy, SVZ understands the natural variability of harvest

cycles and crop yield and ever-changing regulatory processes can make supply chain a real challenge.

For this reason, the company has appointed a dedicated team of skilled agronomists who partner with

growers to bring knowledge of best farming practice alongside the latest standards in cultivation, land

management, food safety and regulatory advice. This close proximity with the growers in the field

early in the supply chain allows greater visibility and influence over how the crops are treated right

through harvest. The dedicated quality team operates to the same stringent, world-class standards

across the whole business, regardless of the country or the factory where the fruit is being harvested

or processed. It is fair to say that

food manufacturers working with

SVZ do so because they know the

right quality controls are in place

and, most importantly, that the raw

materials sourced and supplied are

traceable and safe.

www.svz.com/agronomy

info@svz.com

SVZ’s rich heritage

in agronomy, supply

chain expertise and

commitment to

sustainability mean

it is uniquely placed

to offer significant

added value as well

as world-class

ingredients.