What Is the Common Export Process and Packaging?

For the pre-export process, farmers harvest by cutting the grapes from the tree based on the destination and variety ordered. They don't store grapes before the order, but if there are specific requests, they can cut them beforehand and go to the packaging house to do special packing. Usually, cold storage trucks are used for transport to maintain the cold chain, except in cases where farms are near the packing houses. 

Source: Emad fathy OM Tridge Egypt

Different rules and packaging styles depend on the destination, and it is highly advised that packaging be done immediately. When the orders are confirmed, the grapes are taken to the packing house, around 40-50 km from the farm. Most common types of packaging: 5kg carton with 10 clamshell, each 0,5 kg, or 4.5 kg cartons with either plastic bags or paper bags. Also, there are variants with 9 kg cartons, with plastic or paper bags inside.

Before loading, they inspect the product and how the packaging has been done. The grapes have to be shipped in temperature-controlled containers. The temperature differs based on the destination country. 1-1.5 degrees for China. Before sending to China, the loading port is closely inspected, including the necessary documents. For payments, FOB and CIF are mainly used. Main ports for export via sea are: Damietta & Port Said.