Final report for the non-regulated analysis of existing policy for table grapes from Sonora, Mexico

Harvesting and handling procedures

Both in field and packing house systems are used to pack table grapes for export.

In field packing

Harvesting is done by hand. Table grape bunches are harvested when they have reached a minimum of 15 degrees Brix (SAGARPA 2015a). Bunches are picked using scissors, damaged or unsightly berries are trimmed out and bunches are collected into plastic picking tubs (Figure 9).

Figure 9 Picker harvesting table grape bunches

The plastic tubs are taken to a stand, off the ground, at the end of the row. The packer checks the bunches again and then packs them into either plastic bags or clam shell packaging, which are then placed into boxes (Figure 10). Once packed, the boxes are stacked on pallets at the end of the row, awaiting collection to be taken to the packing house (Figure 11).

Figure 10 Field packing of table grapes at the end of the row



Figure 11 Stacks of field packed table grapes awaiting collection

Packing house packing

For table grapes destined to be packed in a packing house, the bunches are picked in the same manner as for field packed table grapes. But rather than packing bunches at the end of the row, the plastic picking tubs are stacked onto pallets at the end of the row (Figure 12) to be collected and taken to a packing house.

Figure 12 Plastic tubs of table grapes awaiting collection to be packed in the packing house

5. Post-harvest

   1. Packing house

Packing houses for table grapes in Sonora are of two types, for table grapes that are packed in the field and for those to be packed in the packing house.

Field packed table grapes

Boxes of field packed table grapes are sent to a packing house for final quality checks, labelling, palletising consignments, phytosanitary inspection and certification and finally for transport and export.

Figures 13 to 15 show external and internal views of a packing house for field packed table grapes. Truckloads of boxed table grapes are brought in from the field and unloaded. Traceability details are recorded, including the grower, plot and row. Each box is weighed and labelled. Sometimes sulphur pads are placed in the boxes as a quality control measure for fungal pathogens when destination countries are a long distance away (information collected during a verification visit by the department). The boxes are palletised and the consignment is labelled.

Figure 13 External view of a packing house for field packed table grapes



Figure 14 Boxes of field packed table grapes arriving at the packing house



Figure 15 Inside a packing house for field packed table grapes

Packing house packed table grapes

Some importers and supermarkets in destination countries require table grapes to be packed in a packing house. Packing house packing of table grapes may also be done to process large volumes of table grapes in a short time.

Crates of table grapes are brought in from the field and traceability details recorded. The crates are placed onto conveyer belts for packers to select and place table grape bunches into plastic bags or clam shell packaging which are then placed into boxes. After packing, the process is the same as for field packed table grapes. Each box is weighed, labelled and palletised. The pallet is labelled and is ready for export procedures.

In addition, Mexico advised that before packing it would include an application of compressed air blowing to remove any live arthropods such as adults, juvenile or eggs for table grapes for export to Australia.

Figure 16 Tubs of table grapes arriving at the packing house for packing



Figure 17 Packing house for packing house packed table grapes



Figure 18 Packing line in a packing house

Cold Storage

Once table grapes have been packed and palletised, by either method, they are sent to cool rooms for pre-cooling and cold storage until transport, for export or the domestic market. Figures 19 and 20 show cold storage facilities.

Figure 19 Cold store facility adjacent to a packing house



Figure 20 Consignments of palletised table grapes in a cool room awaiting transport

2. Export procedures

After palletising, consignments for export are issued with a phytosanitary certificate. The phytosanitary certificate is issued by SAGARPA at the request of an officer authorised by Mexico’s NPPO (authorised officer) who checks that all phytosanitary conditions have been met for the particular export market. Pallets are shipped in sealed containers and the phytosanitary certificates include the seal number (information collected during a verification visit by the department).

Phytosanitary inspections, if required, are undertaken by authorised officers. Authorised officers hold appropriate qualifications and are trained in the commodity in question. They are continuously evaluated on matters including sampling techniques, checking vineyard and packing house registration, processes for sending samples for off-site identification and dealing with non-compliances, and the process of phytosanitary certification (information collected during a verification visit by the department). The authorised officer provides results of the inspection to SAGARPA.

3. Transport

Table grapes for export from Mexico are transported by air or sea freight depending on the destination. The table grapes are refrigerated during transport (SAGARPA 2015c).

Figure 21 Summary of vineyard and post-harvest steps for table grapes grown in Sonora for export

6.