In order to accurately define our product
requirements we have revised our approach to specifying the fruit
&vegetable products that we wish to purchase. Currently
we specify the required origin of a product in order to ensure that
we purchase the most appropriate quality. In future we will
specify the quality standard that is required rather
than the product origin (we may still specify origin on products
where origin is particularly relevant). We will be relying on our
suppliers and their product expertise to meet these quality
standards by supplying product from the most appropriate
origin.
Our culinary teams and buyers will request the
most appropriate quality for their particular needs and our
suppliers will be expected to meet or exceed that standard with
product from the most appropriate origin.
To ensure that our product requirements are
consistently met we have defined three quality standards; Premium
Quality, Standard Quality and Secondary Quality.
Please ensure when quoting against our product
lists that you are quoting for the most appropriate product origin
for each of the required quality standards. Additionally we
may also specify product of a particular origin where product from
a specific origin is required.
The requirements of each of the quality standards
are set out below.
|
Criteria/Comment
|
Premium
Quality
|
Standard
Quality
|
Secondary
Quality
|
|
Use /
Application
|
Typically for use in an unprocessed manner and to
be provided directly to the guest/consumer
|
For general kitchen use, may
be processed
|
For processing or use where appearance isn’t
a primary concern
|
|
Example of
Use
|
Guest room fruit basket,
buffet or display
|
Ingredients for
recipes
|
Stocks, sauces, soups, staff
canteen
|
|
Genaral
Appearance
|
|
|
|
|
Colour
|
Rich colour skin as
appropriate
|
Rich colour skin as
appropriate
|
Skin can be flat or slightly
dull
|
|
Visual
Appearance
|
Smooth / firm skin as
appropriate
No blemishess or
bruises
|
Smooth / firm skin as
appropriate
Only minor blemishess or bruises on less than 5% of
consignment
|
Skin can be slighlty wrinkly
Minor blemishess or bruises on less than 20% of
consignment
|
|
Sensory
|
Firm, Tender, sweet, bitter, fresh, juicy as
appropriate
|
Firm, Tender, sweet, bitter, fresh, juicy as
appropriate
|
|
|
Shape
|
Uniform shape, no irregular curvatures or distorted
shapes
|
Uniform shape,
Minimal irregular curvatures, minimal distorted
shapes comprising less than 10% of consignment
|
Can be shaped
differently
|
|
Size
|
Evenly sized, no items +/- 5% of the average sized
item
|
Evenly shapped, no items +/- 15% of the average
sized item
|
Items can be sized
differently
|
|
Maturity
|
Harvested
ripe.
|
Harvested
ripe.
|
Ripe or
Unripe
|
|
Major
Defects
|
Less than 1g per
Kg
|
Less than 50g per
Kg
|
Less than 100g per
Kg
|
|
Insects
|
With evidence of live
insects
|
With evidence of live
insects
|
With evidence of live
insects
|
|
Diseases
|
With fungal or bacterial rots
of the skin or flesh
|
With fungal or bacterial rots
of the skin or flesh
|
With fungal or bacterial rots
of the skin or flesh
|
|
Physical
Damage
|
With cuts, holes, cracks, bruses or wounds (that
break the skin)
|
With cuts, holes, cracks, bruses or wounds (that
break the skin)
|
With cuts, holes, cracks, bruses or wounds (that
break the skin)
|
|
Physiological
Disorder
|
With discolouration of the skin, internal breakdown
or browning
|
With discolouration of the skin, internal breakdown
or browning
|
With discolouration of the skin, internal breakdown
or browning
|
|
Temperature
Injury
|
With skin or flesh damage due to sunburn or
freezing
|
With skin or flesh damage due
to sunburn or freezing
|
With skin or flesh damage due to sunburn or
freezing
|
|
Minor
Defects
|
Less than 1g per
Kg
|
Less than 50g per
Kg
|
Less than 100g per
Kg
|
|
Physical / Pest Damage
|
No pest damage permitted
With minor superficial
bruises
|
With minor superficial bruises eg flat / sunken
areas slightly darker than skin colour with no distinct edges or
indented.
|
With minor superficial bruises eg flat / sunken
areas slightly darker than skin colour with no distinct edges or
indented.
|
|
Skin Marks /
Blemishes
|
No skin marks / blemishes
permitted
|
With healed injuries in skin
Minor Blemishes
permitted
|
With healed injuries in skin
Minor Blemishes
permitted
|
|
Physiological
Disorder
|
No Physiological disorders
permitted
|
|
|
|
Consignment Criteria
|
|
|
|
