CRITICAL AREAS in LOSS PREVENTION (Cavendish Banana Import-Export)

I am into facilitating Cavendish Banana Import-Export from Davao Philippines since 2007. Since then, I experienced a lot, and every customer and shipments are a learning process. Yes this business is very lucrative but unless you are familiar with the system and risk involve, you will surely end up in a mess of loss of time and money.

To resolve the issues, I formulate my own report based on years of experience, rigid research and consultation. Below is the result and I titled it as, "Cavendish Banana Import-Export CRITICAL AREAS in LOSS PREVENTION." You may want to view it for your reference if you are into this business. Otherwise, you may just end up in losses and waste of time (especially if you are not that experienced). My report also includes actual damage report experienced by my client to his former supplier.

To have a bird's eye view of my report, below is the actual Table of Contents...

• Low Price Trap in Cavendish Banana Import-Export
• Basic Checklist
• Quality / Duration of Storage
• Packaging
• Transport
• RF Temperature
• Humidity / Moisture
• Ventilation
• Biotic Activity
• Gases
• Self Heating / Spontaneous Combustion
• Odor
• Contamination
• Mechanical Influences
• Toxicity / Hazards to Health
• Shrinkage / Shortage
• Insect Infestation / Diseases

Although this field is basically sales in nature, finding the lowest price is not enough. The importer must find first the genuine farm owner-exporter or grower with set standards on harvest, packing operations, loading, shipping and customer relations. There are lots one can find in the internet but in reality, the genuine are hard to find as most in the internet are mere trading firms or middle men companies. To find the genuine, first, an importer must cooperate with someone who knows where the genuine farm owner/grower are, and willing to lead you directly to them. Second, the importer needs his contact to monitor the operations till bananas are shipped and reached the port of destination in good shape and expected freshness. That is Risk Management or Loss Prevention. An importer cannot just rely the matters in the hands of the supplier, especially if the destination is as far as Middle East, Europe and Russia. It has to be delegated to trusted experienced someone, or face the consequences caused by lack of understanding and monitoring team.

Another thing.

Right Container provider, right set temperature and ventilation is also very important. At the same time, below suggestion is very crucial:

1. Must pre-survey the plantation

2. Should hire Quality Inspector/s check harvests (live-Cut!)

3. To hire Quality Inspector to supervise packing line at the weighing and selection point

4. Clear and specific purchase and cutting order to the growers/farmers

5. Someone to random check on delivery before loading into the container

6. Securing of the cut-off time to secure maximum 12 hours between cut and cooling. At the same time, counter check set temperature and ventilation.

7. Inspection of the fruit thru the Bureau of Plant Industry (Department of Agriculture and SGS).

8. Others as the need arises.

More details are clarified with recommendations on issues at my report.

**this blog article is also found at agriwindow.wordpress.com

Feasibility Study or Business Plan are also available upon request.

If you you are interested, you may e-mail me at denissalvatierra@yahoo.com