Fewer disputes, faster settlement
A dated, photographed and signed record of the condition at loading separates origin problems from transit problems. When something goes wrong, both sides argue from facts, not memories.
Independent quality control for perishable produce
Know the condition of your fruit before it ships, and prove it on arrival
Fruit Quality Studio Africa is an independent inspection company based in Nairobi. We inspect fresh avocados, mangoes, vegetables and herbs at packhouses, cold stores and ports across East Africa, and arrange arrival surveys at destination, so that exporters, buyers, insurers and financiers all work from the same evidence.
- Origin and destinationPackhouse to arrival, one chain of evidence
- Photographic reportsReleased the same day as the inspection
- Five originsKenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi
Why independent inspection matters
A container of fresh fruit is a promise. We make it verifiable.
Avocados, mangoes, vegetables and herbs change by the hour. Maturity, handling, temperature and time decide whether a shipment arrives as sold or as a claim. Once the doors close, nobody can see the fruit for three to five weeks. An independent inspection at loading, and a survey at arrival, turn that uncertainty into a record that every party can trust.
Confidence for buyers who cannot be there
Importers and retailers approve a supplier they have never visited on the strength of our report: sample by sample, pallet by pallet, with the dry matter, temperature and defect counts they need.
Assurance that insurers and lenders can rely on
Cargo underwriters and trade financiers want to know that the goods existed, met specification and were loaded correctly. An independent sign off at origin is the control they can build a policy or a facility around.
Protection for exporters who do things right
Good exporters lose money to claims they did not cause. Our report at loading is their defence, and our feedback on grading, packing and cold chain helps them ship better fruit next time.
A stronger reputation for East African origins
Every verified consignment strengthens the standing of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi in markets where buyers compare origins on consistency. Independent inspection is how an origin earns a premium.
People who know what to look for
Inspection is only as good as the inspector. We train exporters, quality managers and inspectors across the region to the same method we use ourselves, so quality improves at the source.
What we do
Inspections, surveys and training, at origin and destination
Pre loading inspections at origin
Representative sampling, weight, size, maturity, firmness, temperature, defects, packaging and labelling checked before the container closes, with a photographic report the same day.
Origin inspections →
Arrival and destination surveys
Out turn surveys at the port, cold store or ripening facility, with data logger download and seal checks, through our partner surveyor network in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America.
Destination surveys →
Training for exporters and inspectors
Collective programmes in Nairobi, Mbeya and across the region, and in house courses at your packhouse: maturity, defects, sampling, cold chain, reporting and the standards buyers apply.
Training programmes →
Dry matter and maturity testingBefore harvest and at the packhouse, with the result in your hands the same day.
Cold chain and reefer verificationPre trip inspection, set point, pre cooling, pulp temperature at loading, stowage and seal.
Programme quality controlOne standard applied to every container of a season programme, with trend reporting.
Second opinion and dispute surveysAn independent view when buyer and seller disagree about quality.
Who we work for
One report, many uses
The same inspection serves different needs along the chain. Tell us who you are and we shape the scope and the report to the decision you have to make.
Exporters and packhouses
Evidence of the condition at loading, early warning on grading or packing issues, and a report your buyer trusts.
Importers, retailers and buyers
Eyes at origin before you pay, and a destination survey when the container arrives.
Insurers and underwriters
Independent verification of condition, loading and sealing as the loss prevention control behind the policy.
Banks and trade financiers
Confirmation that financed goods exist, meet specification and have been shipped as declared.
Shipping lines and logistics providers
Documented pre cooling, pulp temperature, stowage and set point so that carriage disputes are settled on data.
Regulators and agencies
Field data, training capacity and an independent partner for maturity, quality and export readiness programmes.
How an inspection works
From request to report in six steps
- RequestSend the product, origin, location, quantity, loading date, destination and buyer specification through the form or by email.
- Scope and quotationWe confirm the scope, the standard we will inspect against, the inspector and the attendance time, with a written quotation. No fees are published; every job is quoted.
- AttendanceThe inspector attends the packhouse, cold store, depot or port with calibrated equipment and follows our standard operating procedure.
- Sampling and checksRepresentative cartons from several pallets and layers; identification, weight, size, temperature, firmness, dry matter, external and internal quality, packaging, labelling and pallet condition.
- ReportA photographic report with a summary, sample by sample findings, defect percentages, a grade and storage advice, reviewed and released by a senior inspector the same day.
- Follow upArrival survey at destination where requested, trend reporting across a programme, and feedback to the packhouse on what to improve.
What you receive
A report a claims handler, a buyer and a packhouse manager can all read
Every inspection ends in a structured quality control report, released by a senior inspector and sent as a PDF to the people you nominate.
- Particulars. Shipper, consignee, reference, container or truck, product, inspection type, location and date.
- Summary per sample. Variety and size, pallet, class, grade, weight, minor and major remarks as percentages, storage advice.
- Measurements. Pulp temperatures across the load, firmness readings, dry matter, carton weights, counts.
- Defects. Named, counted and photographed, external and internal, by sample.
- Packaging, labelling, palletising and reefer or cold store settings, with the data logger found and registered.
- Conclusion. Overall quality, risk and a plain language recommendation, with the release record of who inspected and who released.
Products we inspect
Specialists in perishables that punish mistakes
Avocados
Hass, Fuerte, Pinkerton and other varieties. Dry matter, firmness, size, class, external and internal defects, cold chain.
Mangoes
Apple, Kent, Tommy Atkins and Ngowe. Maturity, hot water treatment records, sap burn, anthracnose, size and packing.
Vegetables
French beans, snow peas, sugar snaps and other fine vegetables. Freshness, trim, size, defects, temperature and packaging.
Herbs and other perishables
Basil, mint, coriander, chives and other herbs; pineapple, passion fruit and further perishables on request.
Where we work
East African origins, worldwide destinations
Our inspectors are based in Kenya and attend across the region. Destination surveys are arranged through our partner surveyor network so that the chain of evidence runs from the packhouse to the receiving cold store.
At origin
- Kenya: Nairobi and the central, eastern and Rift Valley growing regions; Mombasa port and depots
- Tanzania: Mbeya, Njombe, Iringa, Kilimanjaro and Arusha; Dar es Salaam port
- Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi: packhouses and collection centres, with inland consolidation points
At destination
- Europe: the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and the Nordic region
- Middle East: the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia
- Asia: China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore and Malaysia
- North America and other markets on request
Partnerships
We want to work with the institutions that shape the trade
Independent quality data is most valuable when it is shared. We are looking to partner with government regulators and agencies, shipping lines and freight forwarders, cargo insurers, banks and trade financiers, trading platforms and development programmes across East Africa.
Questions we are asked
Before you request an inspection
What is a pre loading quality inspection?
An independent inspector attends the packhouse or loading point before a consignment leaves, draws a representative sample from several pallets and layers, checks weight, size, maturity, firmness, temperature, external and internal quality, packaging, labelling and pallet condition against the agreed specification, and issues a photographic report with a clear conclusion. The report records the condition of the fruit at the moment of inspection so that every party can rely on the same facts.
Who orders an inspection and who receives the report?
Exporters, importers and buyers, insurers, banks and trade financiers, shipping lines and trading platforms all order inspections. The party that engages us receives the report and decides who else may see it. Reports are often shared with the counterparty so that both sides have the same record before the fruit travels.
Which products do you inspect?
Fresh avocados are our core speciality, followed by mangoes, vegetables such as French beans, snow peas and sugar snaps, fresh herbs, pineapple and passion fruit. Other perishable produce is inspected on request.
Where do you inspect?
At origin across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi: farms and collection points, packhouses, cold stores, container depots and ports. At destination we arrange arrival and out turn surveys in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America through our partner surveyor network.
How quickly can an inspector attend?
Give us the packing programme as early as you can. In the Nairobi and Mombasa areas we can normally attend at short notice; upcountry growing regions and neighbouring countries need more lead time. Availability for your dates is confirmed when you request the inspection.
Do you publish prices?
No. Our fee depends on the location, the scope of the inspection, the number of containers and whether it is a single attendance or a season programme. Request an inspection or email us and you will receive a clear written quotation before anything is booked.
Are you independent?
Yes. Fruit Quality Studio Africa does not buy, sell or broker produce, holds no commission or trading position in any consignment, and its fee is never linked to the result of an inspection. Our inspectors report what they find.
Ready when your fruit is
Book an inspection or ask us anything
Request an inspection online or write to our inspection desk. Tell us the product, origin, quantity, loading date and destination and we take it from there.
Request an inspection
Email our inspection deskkenya@qualitystudio.eu