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日本語Start with the specification, not the price
A clear specification is the base of every sound fruit contract: variety, size or caliber range, ripeness stage at loading, brix or quality targets where relevant, defect tolerance and packaging format. Without it, two suppliers can quote the same fruit and deliver very different products.
Ask for photographs of the actual lot and, for a first order, a sample shipment. Agree in writing how claims will be assessed on arrival and who pays for an independent inspection if there is a dispute.
Check market access for your exact fruit
Access rules are written per product and per country. A fruit that enters one market easily can be restricted in another, or require a specific treatment or registration. Confirm with your plant-health authority (or your customs broker) that the exact fruit from Ecuador can be imported, and under what conditions.
Our market guides for the EU, Japan and China outline what to ask. They are starting points; always verify current rules with the official source.
Plan documents and the cold chain together
Typical export paperwork includes the commercial invoice, packing list, phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin and bill of lading, plus any product-specific certificates your market requires. The cold chain must be planned at the same time: pre-cooling, reefer setting, temperature logging and transit time all affect shelf life at destination.
Decide who monitors the container, what temperature log you will receive, and what happens if the reefer fails mid-voyage.
Close the commercial terms
Agree the Incoterm (for example FOB or CIF), payment terms, and the treatment of weight and quality tolerances. For new relationships, stage the risk: a smaller first shipment, a letter of credit or partial prepayment, and an inspection before loading are common and reasonable.
Buyer checklist
- Written specification (variety, caliber, ripeness, packaging)
- Sample or photos of the actual lot
- Market-access check for this exact fruit and destination
- Phytosanitary certificate and origin documents confirmed
- Cold-chain plan and temperature log agreed
- Incoterm, payment terms and claim procedure in writing
- Supplier identity, registrations and references verified
