Staples Chilled Fresh Vegetables - Supply Chain - For Brassicas - Cauliflower calabrese cabbage sprouts broccoli borecole kale

Direct control over every process in the supply chain means that we can operate a complete quality assurance and traceability programme from seed to customer.

This begins with soil analysis, seed selection, pesticide residue testing, continuing through the supervision of the harvesting process, packhouse procedures to final pack checks.

Total in-house production reduces the risk of outside contamination and means that all processes can be based around a common aim of providing a superior product.

Quality and Freshness - Blast Cooled Brassicas

Supply Chain of Fresh Vegetables - Brassicas

Staples have total control of the supply chain with the focused aim of providing you with a superior product.

Seed

Quality Assurance and Traceability for brassicas - chilled fresh vegetables

The production cycle starts at Staples nurseries ensuring:

Strict selection of the best seed varieties.
Careful control of the growing environment, giving the crop the most advantageous start
Close monitoring of the crop at this stage reduces the need for agrochemical later in the growth process

Production
Quality Assurance and Traceability of brassicas

Growing product on our five sites gives Staples a strong production base
All crops grown using integrated crop management systems in accordance with the "Assured Produce Scheme".
Isle of Wight farm provides production capacity for over wintered crop, due to climatic advantage.
Large investment in several winter fill reservoirs helps to guarantee crop quality.
Large scale production gives good economies of scale.
Total management control gives the best possible continuity programmes.

Harvesting

Modern high capacity machinery ensures large volumes of produce can be harvested in prime condition.
Skilled personnel and flexible shifts ensure demanding deadlines can be met.

Packhouse
Quality Assurance and Traceability of brassicas

Large capital investment means that Staples have some of the most modern packhouse facilities in the industry:

Hygiene and safety standards far in excess of any industry requirements.
Totally separate high and low care areas ensures products are handled in the correct environment.
Integrated computer system that provides live traceability and stock level information.
High humidity cold stores remove field heat to maintain quality and extend shelf life.
Product is processed along various packing lines by trained personnel according to customer specifications.

Distribution
Quality Assurance and Traceability of brassicas

Running our own fleet of refrigerated vehicles gives several benefits:

Deliveries can be based solely around customers' requirements.
Live vehicle tracking system enables deliveries to be monitored from packhouse to customer depot.
Product passes directly from despatch cold-stores to the customer, without passing through a third party, eliminating chance for outside contamination or other problems in the delivery chain.
Computer generated load plans are recorded to show the origin and production history of each pallet.

Customers

With Staples total control of the supply chain, our customers can have complete confidence in the quality and traceability of our products.