| Raw Apple Sourcing | Documented origin, approved orchard or processor records, and consistent varieties suitable for drying. | Fruit variety, maturity, sweetness, acidity, and defect rate directly affect color, texture, and yield. | 12% | Supplier approval records, harvest information, incoming inspection reports, and sample comparison. |
| Food Safety Management | A documented food-safety management system covering hygiene, allergen control, foreign-material control, sanitation, and corrective actions. | Systematic controls reduce contamination risks and support consistent export compliance. | 18% | Valid third-party certification, audit report, sanitation records, hazard analysis, and corrective-action history. |
| Moisture Control | Commercial specifications commonly target moisture at or below approximately 20%, subject to product style and buyer requirements. | Moisture influences chewiness, microbial stability, clumping, and shelf life. | 10% | Laboratory moisture results, calibrated test equipment, batch records, and retained samples. |
| Water Activity | A controlled water-activity target, often around 0.60 or lower for shelf-stable dried-fruit applications, must be confirmed by product specification. | Water activity is a more useful stability indicator than moisture alone because it reflects available water for microbial growth. | 10% | Water-activity test reports, instrument calibration records, and storage-stability data. |
| Appearance and Color | Uniform slice or cube size, limited browning, low visible defects, and no evidence of mold, insects, or foreign material. | Consistent appearance improves retail presentation and supports predictable downstream processing. | 8% | Approved color standard, defect-count records, inspection photographs, and pre-shipment inspection. |
| Texture and Flavor | Texture should match the agreed product type, such as soft-chewy, crisp, or intermediate; flavor should be clean and free from fermented or burnt notes. | Sensory consistency is essential for repeat orders and private-label product performance. | 8% | Sensory evaluation sheet, approved reference sample, batch tasting records, and customer sample approval. |
| Additives and Sulphites | The product must clearly state whether preservatives or sulphiting agents are used, with levels controlled according to the destination market and customer specification. | Permitted additives and declaration requirements differ by market and product category. | 8% | Ingredient declaration, additive test report, specification sheet, and destination-market compliance review. |
| Pesticide and Contaminant Control | Residues and contaminants must comply with the maximum limits applicable in the destination market. | Testing requirements may include pesticide residues, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and other market-specific contaminants. | 12% | Recent accredited laboratory reports, risk-based testing plan, supplier monitoring records, and traceability documents. |
| Microbiological Safety | Routine testing should cover relevant organisms for dried fruit, with acceptance limits defined in the purchase specification. | Drying reduces microbial growth but does not replace hygienic processing and post-process protection. | 8% | Batch microbiology reports, environmental monitoring records, hygiene audits, and product-release procedures. |
| Traceability and Recall Readiness | The supplier should be able to trace raw materials, processing records, packaging materials, and shipment lots through a documented lot-code system. | Traceability enables faster investigation, targeted withdrawal, and regulatory response. | 6% | Mock-recall results, lot-code examples, one-step-back and one-step-forward records, and retention policy. |
| Packaging Performance | Food-contact packaging should provide an effective moisture and oxygen barrier appropriate for the product and intended shelf life. | Correct packaging protects texture, flavor, color, and safety during storage and transportation. | 5% | Packaging specification, food-contact declaration, seal-integrity checks, migration documentation, and packaging trials. |
| Shelf-Life Validation | A defined shelf-life period should be supported by stability data under stated storage conditions. | Validated shelf life helps buyers plan inventory and reduces quality claims. | 5% | Real-time or accelerated stability data, storage instructions, retained-sample reviews, and expiry-date policy. |
| Production Capacity and Consistency | The supplier should demonstrate repeatable output against agreed specifications rather than relying only on a successful initial sample. | Reliable capacity is important for seasonal demand, promotions, and long-term contracts. | 5% | Production plans, batch-history data, capacity allocation, on-time delivery records, and continuity plans. |
| Quality Documentation and Communication | Clear specifications, certificates of analysis, change-control procedures, and timely responses to non-conformities. | Strong documentation reduces approval time and prevents misunderstandings between buyer and supplier. | 4% | Specification template, certificate-of-analysis sample, complaint-response records, and document-control procedure. |
| Export and Logistics Capability | Experience with export documentation, moisture-protective loading, lot identification, and destination-specific labeling. | Correct logistics execution protects the product after it leaves the processing facility. | 4% | Sample export documents, loading photographs, shipping records, label review, and logistics risk assessment. |