Harvest Events

All fruit is harvested in washable plastic tubs.  Experienced packers separate the fruit and pack in the appropriate box.

After packing, the boxes are stacked on a paper tray to prevent the container from coming in contact with the ground. 

The packed fruit is then placed on pallets on flat-bed trucks for transport to the cooling facility.

Packed lugs are covered with shade cloth to prevent sun exposure and the trucks are unloaded under a 20,000 ft² covered receiving area.

After the field truck is unloaded, a USDA inspector randomly selects boxes for examination.  Once the load has passed inspection, every box is stamped with the USDA seal showing date and identifying the inspector.  This process assists Desert Fresh in its ability to trace back the fruit.

A pallet tag is attached identifying the variety, grade, ranch, date, time of arrival, and field crew.  This assures our ability to trace the product.

Each pallet is then netted and placed in the pre-cooler.

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