Company becomes the first Chilean fruit exporter certified for safe air shipments by DGAC
Garcés Fruit has become the first fruit exporter in Chile to be certified as a recognised shipper by the country’s Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC), a certification until now exclusive used by the country’s salmon industry.
This accreditation, which is part of the National Air Cargo Security Programme, guarantees the security of the cherry supply chain from the processing plant to the air terminal, facilitating faster and safer air transport for exported cherries.
As reported in Portal Portuario, the certification confirms that security measures comply with international air safety standards, guaranteeing that the fruit is free of any element that could compromise flight safety and reducing the need for exhaustive inspections of the cargo at the airport.
To achieve the certification, Garcés Fruit had to adapt its processes to meet aeronautical safety requirements. This included training more than 200 workers, identifying critical loads and installing a metal detector for fruit.
The certification, valid for two years with continuous monitoring by the DGAC, is recogniSed by the United States and the European Union. Previously, all cherry shipments were subject to X-ray and trace inspections of explosives, but with the DGAC certification, only a small percentage of Garcés Fruit shipments will require these inspections.
Fernanda Soto, head of sustainability at Garcés Fruit, said the certification process took just under a year to complete. He said the benefits of this certification include time savings, cost reduction and lower energy consumption thanks to faster unloading and reduced storage times.
Looking ahead, Garcés Fruit said it intends to continue improving its safety measures and expanding the certification to include other fruits besides cherries.
