10 advise on how to prepare. start and operate a fruit and vegetale processing factory

10 advise on how to prepare, start and operate a fruit and vegetable processing factory :

1. Assure a raw material temporary storage capacity/ surface for 2-5 processing days. Invest in an adequate size cold room for sensible raw materials;

2. Plan the equipment to operate at the start-up for at least one working shift (about 7-9hours) per day, for 5 working days per week; when needed, a second shift could beorganized;

3. Plan to operate the processing center as long as possible during the year (e.g. a maximum of working days per year);. in order to achieve this, invest in the buildings and equipment which will enable to:

  a) process as many species of fruits and vegetables as possible / as available;

  b) use as many preservation methods as possible, e.g. drying, dehydration,         concentration, sugar preservation, etc.

A processing flow for multi-fruits production factory

4. Whenever possible, "rush" the utilization of available raw materials during crop season by additional manufacturing of semi-processed products and transform these into consumer finished products during the off season.

Sterilizer+Aseptic filling to produce semi-processed products

5. Raw material quality is a major element with positive impact on the finished products quality;

6. Initial and continuous people training and motivation is also an important factor in the success or failure of a processing factory and in assuring a constant finished product quality;

7. Keep finished products stocks at a minimum adequate level;

8. Remember that the three main "outputs" of the processing center have to be prioritized in the following order:

Priority l: Finished Product quality inside / in conformity with specifications and standards:national and/or international, consumer special requests, etc.

Priority 2: Continuous and reliable supply of finished products to the domestic and export markets all over the year (or at least all over the "marketing season" of specific products);

Priority 3: Manufacturing and transport costs as low as possible, inside the stringent need to cover the first two priorities;

9. When deciding on the equipment output, take into consideration all elements specified and mainly raw material availability and market demand for a specific finished product;

10. Invest in simple, "modular" processing lines which enable, with some simple "on-site',configuration modifications, to become versatile for processing various types of finished products; this is mainly important for- the first technological steps (preparation of raw materials, etc.);