Customer programme

• Fruit should always be sold as part of an agreed customer programme, if optimum returns are to be realised.
• Programmes will allow controlled marketing. This will in turn allow packers to pack and distribute fruit in the optimum condition, with sufficient stock to be flexible on a day to day basis, but without unnecessary build up and deterioration of stock.
• In practice the packhouse will receive a weekly programme, with order confirmation on a daily basis received from the sales office.
• The packer should ideally pack sufficient stock for the orders anticipated for the next day. On this basis fruit would not have been packed more than 36 hours before despatch. There will be exceptions to this rule, for example the build-up prior to Christmas. However, this must be an exception rather than the rule.