Sundaymail Editor
Bolton Kudzai Kakava
Word from the Market
FINE beans — which are also called haricots verts, filet beans or needle beans — are a common vegetable in Europe.
Therefore, there are opportunities to export off-season fine beans, with a possibility of all-year-round supply of the produce.
According to the Centre for Promotion of Imports (CBI), the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (UK) are the largest importers of fine beans.
CBI is an agency of the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Fine beans (phaseolus vulgaris L.) represent 20 percent of vegetables exported from Zimbabwe, where they are usually grown during winter.
They are smaller, tender, quicker to cook and rich in vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin K, as well as beta-carotene, folate and potassium.
Some of the varieties common in Zimbabwe are Samantha, Boston and Serengeti.
They are harvested between 60 and 90 days after planting, depending on the season and variety.
They can yield between eight and 15 tonnes per hectare if good agronomic practices are followed.
They are hand-picked, sorted and graded to guarantee high-quality pods.
The ideal temperature for storage is between 4ºC and 8ºC, with a high relative humidity of 95 percent.
They are usually packed in perforated polyethylene bags or film-covered punnets in cardboard boxes or in modified atmosphere packaging that allows lower oxygen levels.
The packaging boxes range from 2kg to 5kg.
Market
Demand for fine beans in Europe is all year round.
In most cases, imported fine beans arrive in Europe between October and June, which is outside the local production season.
The import of fine beans from non-European countries increased from 210 000 tonnes in 2017 to 241 000 tonnes in 2021.
Two-thirds of the beans consumed in the UK are imported, especially from Africa.
Kenya is the largest supplier to the UK, followed by Morocco and Egypt.
Kenya exports all year round, while shipments from Morocco, Egypt and Senegal are seasonal.
The Netherlands remains an important trade hub for exporters from developing countries.
In 2021, the Netherlands imported 45 000 tonnes of fine beans from developing countries.
Trade prices for fine and extra fine beans are between €1,50 and €2 per kg, excluding air freight costs.
Importers usually calculate a minimum profit margin of 8 percent, in addition to their commercial costs such as customs clearance and inspections.
Mandatory requirements
Producers must avoid or minimise pesticide residue and contaminants.
Pesticide residues are among the issues that are red-flagged regarding fruits and vegetables.
The European Union has set maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides in and on food products.
Fine beans containing more pesticides than allowed are withdrawn from the market.
The same applies to contaminants such as heavy metals.
Retailers in Germany, the Netherlands and Austria use MRLs that are relatively stricter than those laid down in European legislation.
Producers must also follow phytosanitary requirements.
Each consignment of exported fine beans must be accompanied by a certificate guaranteeing that they were properly inspected and are free from quarantine insects, pests and diseases, in line with the plant health requirements of the European Union (EU) or country of destination.
In Zimbabwe, the Plant Quarantine Services is the national plant protection organisation that issues phytosanitary certificates.
Certification
The common certification for fine beans is GLOBALG.A.P. for good agricultural practices and BRCGS Global Food Safety Standard, International Featured Standard (IFS) or similar hazard analysis and critical control point-based food safety management systems for packing and processing facilities.
◆ Bolton Kudzai Kakava is a regulations and compliance consultant, as well as a regenerative and organic agriculture agronomist. Word from the Market is a column produced by the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) to promote market-driven production. Feedback: [email protected] or WhatsApp/Call +263781706212
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