Parsley

Parsley is harvested from January to December. For a buyer planning by season, this means a fixed weekly volume can be agreed and held without a change of origin, with the added advantage that the mild winter in south-eastern Spain allows leaf production when central and northern Europe depend entirely on imports.

The working format is the bunch, with two details to note:

• 200 g bunches, 20 bunches per box, 4 kg net.
• 40×30 polystyrene box, compatible with the Euro pallet.

Polystyrene insulates the product against temperature changes between cold store, loading bay and lorry, helping to keep the leaf firm until it reaches the customer's platform. The 4 kg box is light enough for manual handling at wholesale market stands and in catering depots, which matters for a product that is often broken down into small daily orders.

The recommended transport temperature is 3-4 °C. Parsley tolerates cold chain interruptions poorly, showing yellowing and weight loss, so dispatch is organised with immediate cooling after harvest and direct loading into refrigerated vehicles.

The group's growers are certified under GLOBALG.A.P. and IFS and meet the equivalent standards required by European retail chains. Each lot carries plot-of-origin identification and treatment records, complies with EU maximum residue limits and is labelled for the receiving country.

For parsley, Hortiberia normally works with weekly programmes agreed per season, with the option of adjusting quantities within the notice period arranged with each customer.