How we grade your fruit

Simple, consistent grading so every supplier knows what to expect. Deliver ripe, clean bunches within 24 hours of harvest for the best price.

Key rules at a glance

1 grade

Bunches that meet our standard and earn the full price.

Ripe bunches
Yellowish to reddish outer layer with yellow mesocarp. At least ten loose sockets, with more than half of the fruit still attached at inspection.

3 grades

Bunches that are accepted but graded down.

Unripe bunches
Black or purple-black, with a yellowish mesocarp outer layer. No fresh fruit sockets at inspection; any sockets are not from normal ripening.
Empty bunches
More than 90% of the fruit has already detached from the bunch at inspection.
Long stalk
The stalk is longer than 5 cm, measured from the lowest point of the bunch.

6 grades

Bunches that may be penalised or turned away.

Dirty bunches
More than half of the surface is covered in mud or sand, or mixed with stones and other impurities.
Poorly pollinated bunches
Abnormal in size, density or clustering, with more than 50% parthenocarpic fruit.
Damaged bunches
More than 30% of the fruit is damaged by pests, especially rats.
Small bunches
Small bunches weighing less than 2.3 kg (5 lb).
Under-ripe bunches
Orange to reddish-purple, with a yellowish-orange mesocarp outer layer. Fewer than ten loose sockets at inspection.
Over-ripe bunches
Dark red, with more than half of the fruit detached but at least 10% still attached at inspection.