How is the quality of flowers controlled?

The most effective method is to conduct quality control checks on flowers before shipment. We usually engage third-party companies to perform quality control and ask their inspectors to conduct random checks of boxes at the transport agency’s refrigerated warehouse.

As a rule, the following aspects are checked:

• Flowers from farms that have not been checked for a long time
• Orders from customers who have requested quality control of their orders in advance
• Flowers from farms offering certain varieties in large quantities
• Varieties sold at suspiciously low prices that contrast with the general situation on the flower market

If 10 to 15 customers have indicated the farm as their preferred supplier, regularly purchase flowers from it, and are satisfied, then verification is not required.

What flower parameters should be checked during quality control before shipping flowers?

• The temperature inside the boxes of flowers when they are unloaded from the truck at the transport agency’s cold storage warehouse (indicated in the receipt document)
• The temperature of the flowers in the transport agency’s cold storage warehouse during inspection
• The cut point (roses, carnations, alstroemeria) and the size of the buds
• Thickness of stems, as well as checking whether the stems are straight when opening some bouquets
• Freshness of flowers, condition and color of foliage (leaves)
• Botrytis or signs of rot
• Mechanical damage to boxes or buds
• Quality of packaging (securing bouquets in the box)
• Humidity inside the boxes with flowers

How is this process carried out?

• По запросу клиента мы можем организовать службу контроля качества цветов перед вылетом рейса. Клиент получает подробный фотоотчёт о проверке качества осмотренной коробки.
• Boxes of questionable quality are returned to the farms. Quality control reports are documented and accompanied by photographs. If the customer has one day left before purchase, the missing varieties that were rejected as a result of quality control are purchased later, and the order is fulfilled in full.
• The method of quality control of flowers before shipment is only applicable to farms in Ecuador. In Colombia, there are certain restrictions on access to the pre-flight area at the airport, and farms transfer their boxes to airlines (rather than to the cold storage rooms of transport agencies) immediately before departure.
• Quality control with farm visits is less effective because farms can prepare for such visits and eliminate or hide existing problems. It should also be noted that no more than 2-3 farms can be visited per day.
• At the customer’s request, we can arrange a flower quality control service before the flight departure. The customer receives a detailed photo report on the quality check of the inspected box.

Our managers understand perfectly well that if a customer is not satisfied with the quality of the flowers, they will never place another order. The customer’s interests are the top priority for our team and the key to securing future orders.