Quality control is not a single check at the end of the line. With produce, by the time goods are boxed most problems can no longer be fixed.
Where we check, and what for
We place control points at four stages: intake from the orchard, after grading, before packing, and before loading. Each stage checks a different set of parameters — intake covers lot origin and picking criteria; after grading covers size and defect rate; before packing is a final visual check; before loading covers temperature and carton specification.
Why it has to be written down
A check that is not recorded can only be used once. Results from each control point are filed against the lot code, so when a shipment has an issue we can trace which stage it arose at, rather than guessing.
It is also the basis for improving the next season. If the rejection rate from one orchard is markedly higher than others in the same round, that is a signal about the cultivation protocol, not luck.
What happens to off-specification produce
It is separated at the control point and does not re-enter the export flow. This rule has no exceptions: blending some weaker produce into a compliant lot might get one shipment through, but it costs a long-term customer.