Fresh Fruits | Inspection guide

Table Grape Inspection in Turkey

Manisa and the surrounding Aegean region produce Turkey's main export table grape, the seedless Sultani Çekirdeksiz, along with red and black varieties. With cold storage, Turkish grapes are offered from early summer well into winter.

Request an inspection Quality parameters

Season: June to November
Main regions: Aegean, Mediterranean
Category: Fresh Fruits
Key tests: Pesticide residues; Brix and titratable acidity

01Product overview

Sultani Çekirdeksiz is the main seedless white grape, also the base of Turkey's sultana raisin industry
Red Globe, Crimson Seedless and black seedless varieties are also exported
Bunch structure, berry size and stem freshness define commercial quality

02Turkish production regions

Manisa (especially Alaşehir and Sarıgöl), Denizli and İzmir in the Aegean; Mersin for early grapes.

03Harvest and production season

Early grapes from Mersin in June; the Aegean harvest from July to October, with cold-stored grapes into winter.

January
February
March
April
May
June, in season
July, in season
August, in season
September, in season
October, in season
November, in season
December

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

04Export characteristics

Exported mainly by refrigerated truck to Europe and Russia and by sea reefer further afield. Sulphur dioxide generating pads are commonly used for longer storage and transit.

05Typical quality parameters

Quality parameters for Table Grapes
Parameter	What is checked
Berry size	Diameter in mm or berries per kg
Bunch weight and shape	Minimum bunch weight and compactness by class
Colour	Uniformity for the variety
Sugar and acidity	Brix and Brix to acid ratio
Stem condition	Green, turgid rachis
Defects	Shatter, splits, sunburn, SO2 bleaching, decay, insect damage

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

Loose berries (shatter) in the bottom of packs
Botrytis grey mould and wet decay
SO2 bleaching near the stem
Dry or brown stems
Berry splits and sunburn

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
Brix and titratable acidity
Sulphite residues where SO2 pads are used
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 in storage and transit
Pesticide residues
SO2 damage or residues from generating pads

10Packaging and labelling

Cartons of 4.5 to 9 kg, punnets and bags, often with liners and SO2 pads.

11Storage and transportation

Rapid forced-air cooling, then storage near 0°C at high humidity. We check pad use, liner closure and reefer settings.

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..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..EU food lawRegulation (EC) No 396/2005Maximum residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin.Certification schemesGLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm AssuranceFarm-level certification for good agricultural practice, frequently required by European retailers for fresh produce..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 table grapes

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 table grapes in Turkey?

Early grapes from Mersin in June; the Aegean harvest from July to October, with cold-stored grapes into winter. Typical window: June to November. Exact timing varies with region, altitude and weather each year.

Where are table grapes produced in Turkey?

Manisa (especially Alaşehir and Sarıgöl), Denizli and İzmir in the Aegean; Mersin for early grapes.

Which laboratory tests are typical for table grapes?

Common tests include pesticide residues; brix and titratable acidity; sulphite residues where SO2 pads are used; 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 table grapes?

Botrytis in storage and transit. Pesticide residues. SO2 damage or residues from generating pads.

Can Conformity TR inspect table grapes and supervise loading?

Yes. We inspect table grapes 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 table grapes 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: Table Grapes

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