FAQ
Questions buyers ask
Short answers, with the sources behind them on the linked pages.
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Which origins does RipeArc supply from?
Peru, Chile, South Africa and Argentina for table grapes and blueberries; Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Mexico for raspberries; Costa Rica, Kenya and the Dominican Republic for pineapples. Grapes run from October to May and blueberries from about May to February; raspberries cover Europe’s winter from Morocco and Spain and its summer from Portugal; pineapples ship every month.
When are southern-hemisphere grapes available?
From October to May. Peru starts in October, South Africa in November, and Chile and Argentina in December. In the northern summer Europe takes over: in 2025 Spain exported grapes from July to December, Italy from July to November and Greece from August to November. Season calendar.
Where do blueberries come from in each part of the year?
Peru ships most from August to December, Argentina from August to November, South Africa from May to December and Chile from December to February. In 2025 Spain exported from February to June and Poland from July to September. Blueberries.
When are raspberries available, and from where?
Somewhere all year. Morocco ships to Europe from October to May and Spain peaks in April and May; Portugal carries the summer, peaking from May to August; Mexico grows all year, with a summer low, mainly for North America. Raspberries keep only 2 to 5 days at 0 °C, so they fly except on Morocco’s short truck run to Europe. Raspberries.
Are pineapples seasonal?
No. Costa Rica, about 60% of world supply, ships every month with little change in volume; Europe’s imports peak in December and demand rises at Easter and Christmas. A pineapple never ripens after picking, so it is cut ripe and travels by sea at 7 to 12 °C, about 12 days from Costa Rica to Antwerp. Pineapples.
Which grape varieties come from these origins?
Mostly licensed seedless varieties now lead exports from Peru, Chile and South Africa: Sweet Globe, Autumncrisp and Ivory (white), Sweet Celebration, Allison and Scarlotta (red), and Sweet Sapphire (black), as well as older varieties such as Crimson Seedless and Red Globe. Availability depends on the origin and the week. Variety guide.
What quality class should I specify?
Class I is the usual minimum for European retail: under the EU grape standard and the UNECE berry standard, up to 10% of the fruit may fall below class, with tight limits on decay. Name the standard in the contract, because EU, US and national standards differ. Tolerances and arrival checks.
How sweet should table grapes be?
The EU minimum for seedless grapes is 14 °Brix, but buyers in practice expect about 16 °Brix, or a sugar:acid ratio of at least 18:1 to 20:1 below that. For grapes, the ratio predicts taste better than Brix alone. How sweetness is specified.
Can every origin ship to every market?
No. The EU, UK and US accept grapes and blueberries from all four origins, each with its own treatment. China accepts Peruvian blueberries and Argentine grapes and blueberries under protocols, but not South African blueberries. Israel accepts grapes only from Peru and South Africa’s Orange, Berg and Hex River valleys, and blueberries from Peru, Chile and Argentina. The grape and blueberry pages show the full table by destination. Israel admits raspberries only from a list of European countries, so Spain and Portugal yes, Morocco and Mexico no, and pineapples only from Costa Rica, Kenya and the Dominican Republic.
Do grapes and blueberries need a treatment before entry?
Often, depending on the origin and the market. Cold treatment holds the fruit cold for a set number of days in transit; methyl bromide fumigation takes hours. For example, Peruvian grapes into the US are cold-treated and Chilean grapes fumigated; Peruvian blueberries into China are cold-treated for 15 to 22 days. Treatments and transit.
How long does shipping take?
About 18 to 24 days by sea from Peru, Chile or South Africa to Rotterdam, and 12 to 14 days to the US East Coast. Where a market requires cold treatment in transit, that sets the minimum. Most Argentine blueberries go by air. Transit times.
How should the fruit be stored?
Grapes at −1 to 0 °C and 90–95% humidity, with SO2 pads on long voyages; well-handled grapes are marketed up to 8 to 10 weeks after harvest. Blueberries at −0.5 to 0 °C and above 90% humidity, for about two weeks in normal air or up to six in controlled atmosphere. Raspberries at 0 °C for 2 to 5 days under high CO2; pineapples at 7 to 12 °C and never colder, or the flesh browns inside.
How do I send an inquiry?
Email inquire@ripearc.com with the fruit, the volume, the weeks, the packing and your market. What to include.