Our Standards
Quality Standards
JTG Farm produces exclusively to EU Class I 'Extra' grade, the highest EU quality classification, as defined by COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1580/2007 and Fresh Handling B.V. product specifications (Netherlands).
General Quality Requirements
Applicable to all produce in all quality classes per EU regulations.
- Intact — no missing parts, leaves, or visible damage
- Sound — free from rot, decay, or deterioration making product unfit for consumption
- Clean — practically free from any visible foreign matter
- Free from pests and pest damage
- Free from diseases affecting the leaves or stems
- Free from abnormal external moisture (e.g., condensation from storage)
- Free from any foreign smell or taste
- Species-appropriate colour — vibrant, consistent, characteristic of variety
- Sufficiently developed and not over-mature at point of dispatch
- Appropriate freshness and turgor throughout the cold chain
EU Class I 'Extra' Specification
COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1580/2007 — the highest EU quality class for fresh produce. Fresh Handling B.V., Ridderkerk, Netherlands specifies additional requirements for herbs imported via their facility.
- Top quality — the most stringent EU grade
- Characteristic appearance, development, and colouring of the variety
- Free from defects with the exception of very slight superficial defects that do not affect the general appearance, quality, or keeping quality of the produce
- Uniform bunch size per variety specification
- Minimum stem length and maximum length per Fresh Handling B.V. spec
- Packed and labelled as per importers' instructions
Fresh Handling B.V. Partnership
JTG Farm complies with Fresh Handling B.V. (Ridderkerk, Netherlands) product specifications for all exported herbs and vegetables. Fresh Handling B.V. is a leading European fresh produce handling and distribution company servicing major Dutch and European supermarket chains. Their specifications define precise quality criteria, length tolerances, packaging formats, and labelling requirements for each product variety. JTG Farm's production and post-harvest processes are aligned to these specifications for every shipment.
Cold Chain Requirements
- Products pre-cooled within 2 hours of harvest
- Transport temperature maintained at product-specific range throughout
- Cold chain unbroken from farm gate to customer receipt
- Temperature-monitored reefer vehicles for airport transfer
- Minimum 5-day shelf life guaranteed on arrival at destination airport
- Air-freighted from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to Amsterdam (AMS)
Labelling & Traceability
Full lot traceability is maintained from field to packing. Each shipment is traceable back to specific farm blocks, harvest date, and packing batch.
- GLOBALG.A.P. number (GGN) printed on every label
- Country of origin: Kenya
- Packing date and best-before date
- Product name (common and Latin name)
- Net weight and/or bundle count
- Importer name and address
- Colour-coded bands per variety as specified by buyer
- All labels printed (no handwritten labels permitted)
Packaging Standards
- Packaging material in direct contact with produce: food-safe, new material only
- Carton boxes as per importer specification (standard JGAP or importer boxes)
- Bunching and bundling per variety specification
- Moisture-retaining wrapping where specified
- Packing weight tolerance: ± 5% of stated net weight
- Product-specific layer separators where specified
- No re-use of packaging material from previous shipments