Fresh Notes: Packhouse Action Group (PAG) Meeting

Held on 4 March 2021

Website and Document Feedback

• The PAG page is the most visited on the Hortgro website.
• Top downloads include:
  • Fresh Notes 182 – PAG Feedback (Nov 2020)
  • Container Handling Procedures
  • Jaco Visagie – Trends in Container Technology and Supply

Moratorium on High-Cube Containers

Contact: Jacques du Preez

• No further change; DOT research has not commenced.
• No concrete movement on AARTO regulation 224B (road height restrictions 4.3 meters).
• Minister Mbalula mentioned high-cube heavy trucks damaging roads, but not regulation 224 or height restrictions.
• Extract from Times Live:
  

  “We are putting in place long-term interventions that will introduce rail reform… Similarly, high cubed heavy trucks will no longer get exemptions to be on the road, considering the impact and the damage they do to our roads. The challenges we have to overcome are vast, but not insurmountable.”

Basic Cooling Principles of Pome Fruit

Contact: Johan Strydom

• A summary document on cooling and shipping guidelines for pome fruit is available on Hortgro’s website (link).
• The guidelines make provision for new temperature-sensitive cultivars.

PPECB T13 Dispensations

Contact: Johan Strydom

• A workgroup is exploring how to use PPECB’s T13 operational dispensation feedback data for research and informed decisions.

Load-out Temperatures

Contact: Bernard Henning

• Previous load shedding dispensations are now included in PPECB HP28 regulation:
  • Summer pears: 1.5°C (as currently applied)
  • Winter pears: 2.0°C
  • Apples: 3.0°C
• The principle is to apply an upper temperature limit, not a tolerance, regardless of plastic bag use. This simplifies implementation for assessors and inspectors.
• Shipment of early Granny Smith at +5°C is included in HP28 (a practice from decades ago).

Container Effectiveness and Certification

Contact: Bernard Henning

• PPECB and Stellenbosch University are developing a protocol to measure container effectiveness and certification.

Logistics

Contact: Jacques du Preez

• A multi-disciplinary work group is addressing Cape Town port berthing delays, equipment, and operational inefficiencies.
• High-level meetings with port authorities are ongoing.
• Additional capacity under FSA has enabled a Daily Report on productivity, available on the Hortgro website.

Alternatives to SOPP

Contact: Bernard Henning

• Citrus Research International found two promising alternative products, but registration status for pome fruit is unknown. This will be followed up.

Plastic Strategy

Contact: Dr Malcolm Dodd

• The Plastic Work Group has classified plastic materials used in the pome industry by risk category.
• The next phase is brainstorming a plastic strategy.

Packhouse Benchmarking

Contact: Dawid Malan

• 24 packing lines from 16 organisations have participated.
• Benchmarking data included in previous PAG Fresh Notes.
• Only four packhouses participated in defect benchmarking.
• More packhouses are encouraged to participate.

Packhouse Water Management Project

Contact: Eddie Vienings

• 2019 results show water consumption in packing lines varied between 264 and 663 litres per ton packed.
• Large variances suggest significant opportunities for water use efficiency improvements.
• Full report

Packhouse Audits and Costs

Contact: Henko Vlok

• Audit costs and man hours are an issue for smaller packhouses.
• SIZA provided information on compliance requirements to bring transparency and credibility to the supply chain.
• All packhouses and processing facilities must ensure full compliance of all suppliers throughout their supply chain (SIZA Board decision, supported by Fruit SA).
• Implementation scheduled for 1 April 2023.
• SIZA will consider accommodating smaller suppliers; parameters to be defined.
• SIZA manages Sedex requirements for producers who select Sedex visibility via SIZA.
• Sedex requires 100% completion of their SAQ (Social and Environmental, if requested).
• SIZA negotiated a reduced fee for RSA suppliers needing Sedex visibility.
• SIZA aims for a single audit approach for each standard (environmental and social) and provides visibility to markets on platforms like GLOBALG.A.P and Sedex to avoid duplication and save costs.

Market Access Feedback

Contact: Jacques du Preez / Lindi Benic

• Awaiting confirmation for 2021 orchard and packhouse approvals from Mexico, China, and Taiwan.
• Same procedures as last year expected; DALRRD will perform these functions as foreign inspectors cannot travel to SA.
• The same orchards registered last year can still be used.
• India now requires a non-GMO certificate (obtainable from DALRRD). In-transit cold treatment not yet approved.
• Minister is engaging China regarding pear access (possible trade-off with poultry access to SA).
• Access to Thailand is being followed up.

Best Practice Stepwise Cooling for Cripps’ Pink

Contact: Dr Elke Crouch

• Document coordinated with technical industry members, to be circulated by the SA Pink Lady® Association.
• Available on Hortgro’s website under Science & Technology – Pome Fruit Handling Protocols:
  Cripps Pink Best Practice (March 2021)
  Webinar

CA Engineers’ Webinar

Contact: Richard Hurndall

• Webinar tentatively scheduled for 18 May.
• Will include presentations on packhouse issues and open discussion.
• The group’s mandate for future meetings needs to be defined. Please supply agenda points of interest to packhouse engineers.

PAG Disciplines and Coordinators

Please contact the relevant person if you have any queries regarding the PAG.

• Chairman: Koos Bouwer (bouweb@orangenet.co.za)
• Engineering: Henk Ryke (henk@tad.co.za), Koos Bouwer (bouweb@orangenet.co.za)
• Packaging: Dr Malcolm Dodd (malcolm@alaceraer.co.za), Bryce MacIntyre (bryce.macintyre@kaapagri.co.za)
• Environmental Footprint: Eddie Vienings (eddie@bluenorth.co.za), Hugh Campbell (hugh@hortgro.co.za)
• Packhouse Large: Dawid Malan (dawid@tad.co.za), Francois Malan (francois.malan@cfg.co.za), Willem Coetzee (willem@dutoit.com)
• Packhouse Small: Hendrik Claassen (hendrik@bellafrutta.co.za), Vacancy
• Post-Harvest Quality: Dr Elke Crouch (elke@sun.ac.za), Henk Griessel (henkg@tru-cape.co.za), Jaco Moelich (jaco.moelich@fruitways.co.za)
• Logistics: Johan Strydom (pslog@mweb.co.za), Andy Connell (andy@abarc.co.za)
• Communication Strategy: Richard Hurndall (hurndallr@gmail.com), Koos Bouwer (bouweb@orangenet.co.za), Elise-Marie Steenkamp (elise-marie@hortgro.co.za)
• PPECB: Bernardus Henning (bernardush@ppecb.com)
• FPEF: Werner van Rooyen (werner@fpef.co.za)
• DAFF:
  • Director: Food Safety and Quality Assurance, Billy Makhafola (BillyM@daff.gov.za)
  • Regional Manager: NPPPIS WC Directorate: Inspection Services, Gcobani Tsako (GcobaniT@daff.gov.za)
• Hortgro: Jacques du Preez (jacques@hortgro.co.za), Lindi Benic (lindi@hortgro.co.za)
• Research: Prof Wiehann Steyn (wiehann@hortgro.co.za)
• SIZA: Henko Vlok (henko@siza.co.za)