Fresh Fruits | Inspection guide

Strawberry Inspection in Turkey

Turkey is a large strawberry producer. Fresh fruit is exported to nearby markets, while a significant share goes into frozen product for the European processing industry.

Request an inspection Quality parameters

Season: February to July
Main regions: Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara, Central Anatolia
Category: Fresh Fruits
Key tests: Pesticide residues; Norovirus and hepatitis A for frozen product where required

01Product overview

Highly perishable soft fruit
Colour, firmness and calyx condition drive fresh quality
Frozen IQF and block product are major traded forms

02Turkish production regions

Mersin (Erdemli and Silifke), Aydın, Antalya, Bursa and Konya.

03Harvest and production season

Protected crops from February; open field into summer.

Typical window: February to July. Timing shifts with altitude, variety and weather. See the full Turkish harvest calendar.

04Export characteristics

Fresh fruit goes by truck and air; frozen product by reefer container.

05Typical quality parameters

Quality parameters for Strawberries
Parameter	What is checked
Size	Diameter
Colour	Full red colour for the variety
Calyx	Green and fresh
Defects	Bruising, white shoulders, mould, misshapes

Limits and tolerances come from your contract and the applicable standard. We do not apply generic values where a contract specification exists.

06Visual inspection criteria

Botrytis grey mould
Soft and leaking fruit
White tips and shoulders

07Sampling methods

Sampling follows the method in the contract or, by default, the OECD and EU conformity check approach: a number of packages drawn at random from each lot in proportion to lot size, opened and examined unit by unit for class, sizing and defects. For bulk fruit, a minimum sample weight per lot is taken. Pulp temperature is recorded on arrival at the loading point.

08Laboratory testing

Pesticide residues
Norovirus and hepatitis A for frozen product where required
Microbiology
Multi-residue pesticide screening (LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS)
Soluble solids (Brix) and titratable acidity
Firmness by penetrometer

Testing is coordinated through laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for the required method. See laboratory coordination.

09Food safety and quality risks

Botrytis
Residues
Viral contamination of frozen berries through water and handling

10Packaging and labelling

Punnets in trays for fresh; poly-lined cartons for frozen.

11Storage and transportation

Fresh: rapid cooling and 0 to 2°C. Frozen: -18°C or colder.

12Pre-shipment inspection procedure

Confirm order specification, class, size bands, variety and packaging with the buyer
Check that the lot is fully packed, labelled and palletised before sampling
Draw random cartons across pallets and record pulp temperature
Assess minimum requirements, class defects, sizing and uniformity
Measure Brix, firmness or juice content where the specification requires it
Check packing, net weight, labelling and traceability codes
Supervise reefer pre-cooling, loading pattern and seal
Issue a photographic report the same day with a clear conformity statement

13Relevant international standards

Fresh produceUNECE standards for fresh fruit and vegetablesCommercial quality standards (FFV series) defining classes, minimum requirements, sizing and tolerances.Fresh produceCommission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429EU marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables, applying from 1 January 2025 and replacing the marketing standard provisions of Regulation (EU) No 543/2011..EU food lawRegulation (EC) No 396/2005Maximum residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin.EU food lawCommission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005Microbiological criteria for foodstuffs, covering food safety criteria such as Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes and process hygiene criteria..Certification schemesGLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm AssuranceFarm-level certification for good agricultural practice, frequently required by European retailers for fresh produce..Fresh produceOECD Fruit and Vegetables SchemeOECD explanatory brochures and inspection guidance that interpret UNECE and EU standards with photographs, used by inspectors to apply defect tolerances consistently..Plant healthRegulation (EU) 2016/2031The EU Plant Health Regulation.

Regulations are amended regularly. Always check the version in force for your destination market.

14Conformity TR services for strawberries

Crop and Orchard Status Monitoring

Field visits to orchards, vineyards, greenhouses and farms for buyers who have contracted a future crop and want to see its condition before harvest, with dated photographs, video and a written status report

Fresh Produce Inspection

Inspection of fresh fruit and vegetables at orchards, greenhouses, packhouses and cold stores, using UNECE and EU marketing standards and your own retail specifications

Pre-Shipment Inspection

Final random inspection of food, produce and feed before it leaves the supplier, when the goods are packed and ready to load

Loading Supervision

Supervision of truck, reefer container, bulk vessel and flexitank loading, so the goods that were inspected are the goods that are shipped

Laboratory Coordination

Sampling and coordination of laboratory testing through competent external laboratories: microbiology, pesticide residues, heavy metals, mycotoxins, nutrition, moisture, foreign matter, authenticity and packaging migration

Supplier Audits

Supplier qualification, food safety audits, quality management system audits, GMP audits and GAP assessments for buyers sourcing from Turkey

15Questions buyers ask

When is the season for strawberries in Turkey?

Protected crops from February; open field into summer. Typical window: February to July. Exact timing varies with region, altitude and weather each year.

Where are strawberries produced in Turkey?

Mersin (Erdemli and Silifke), Aydın, Antalya, Bursa and Konya.

Which laboratory tests are typical for strawberries?

Common tests include pesticide residues; norovirus and hepatitis A for frozen product where required; microbiology; multi-residue pesticide screening (LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS). The right test plan depends on your specification and destination market.

What are the main quality and safety risks for Turkish strawberries?

Botrytis. Residues. Viral contamination of frozen berries through water and handling.

Can Conformity TR inspect strawberries and supervise loading?

Yes. We inspect strawberries at the supplier against your specification, coordinate laboratory testing where required and supervise loading, with a photographic report to you the same day.

Contact

Request inspection for strawberries in Turkey

Send the product, supplier location and timing by email, phone or WhatsApp. We confirm scope, sampling method, laboratory plan and cost before any work starts.

Food-qualified inspector at the supplier
Report with photographs the same day
Independent of the supplier

Inspection request: Strawberries

Email[email protected] Phone+90 533 283 05 79 WhatsAppMessage us

OfficeBeştepe Mah. Nergiz Sok. Via Flat İş Merkezi 7/2 Kat:3 No: 87, 06560 Yenimahalle/Ankara

For a fast proposal, include the product and specification, supplier location, destination market and expected dates. We reply in English, usually within one business day.

Email your request Call +90 533 283 05 79