Prevention Strategies

Storage and transportation

• All containers used in the transportation of fresh cherries and wet parchment must be clean and free of husks and other material known to be highly contaminated with mould;
• Only use clean bags for storing and transporting dried coffee;
• Do not store clean, dry green coffee near rejects or husks;
• Cover bags during transport and loading/unloading to prevent re-wetting;
• Load and unload trucks in dry weather or under cover;
• Store coffee in well-ventilated and leak proof warehouses (to avoid moisture re-adsorption), and store away from walls;
• Store coffee bags on pallets, raised off the floor;
• Only use clean, dry and odour-free bins and silos dedicated to coffee;
• All shipping containers should be technically impeccable - i.e. watertight, free of holes and corrosion, with sound seals, being dry and odourless;
• Ensure container stuffing takes place under cover, or in dry weather;
• Use correct container liners according to the shipping method employed (e.g. lined with cardboard, or a container liner);
• Instruct carrier to 'stow away from heat, cool stow and sun/weather protected' to minimise temperature fluctuations in transit;
• Minimise transit times and avoid long stops, and avoid leaving stuffed containers exposed to sunshine for extended periods of time.