The main functions of an MES system include:

• Real-time data collection and analysis
• Control of manufacturing costs
• Planning and sequencing of manufacturing orders
• Quality management
• Production data collection
• Report generation

At Bollo Natural Fruit we are implementing the LÊS OEE solution from Progresa Lean, which helps us to have everything centralised in a single system, connecting the planning level (ERP) and the plant control level (machines).

Thanks to this system, we are able to improve production efficiency, control machine speed, optimise production planning, control quality, analyse packaging and improve data-based decision-making.

La entrada We implement the MES System in our headquarters in Alzira se publicó primero en Bollo Naturalfruit.

The passing of these audits with a very good score is the result of the great teamwork of all the staff who are part of #BolloNaturalFruit.

What is an audit?

It is a systematic, independent and documented process, through which we can obtain evidence that allows us to verify compliance with the requirements of a given standard.

What are the benefits of being certified under a quality standard?

The purpose of being certified under a quality standard is to guarantee food safety, product quality and ensure compliance with the applicable legal requirements, as well as to prevent fraud, thus guaranteeing the protection of the end consumer.

Types of audits.

– Announced  the company can select the audit date within its audit window.

– Unannounced  the company does not have the power to choose the audit date.

Why opt for the unannounced audit programme?

The company’s request for the unannounced audit programme ensures transparency throughout the food chain.

Passing these audits enhances the confidence of customers and end-consumers in the company. They certify that the quality systems are continuously updated and can be assessed at any time without any inconvenience.

It is a way of giving our customers confidence in our processes.

La entrada We have renewed the BRCGS and IFS quality certifications se publicó primero en Bollo Naturalfruit.

To do this, we decided to make them some wicker baskets so that they would feel comfortable and take them as their home, but they did not pay any attention. We kept looking for the traces and tracing maps to see if we could find their nest, well, 6 years later we have succeeded!

The surprise has been enormous, as they have nested in an orange tree.

In addition, and as usual in the clutches of the birds of prey that decide to have young in our farm, the long-eared owl has had 5 chicks, the maximum clutch is between 5-6, which is an indication of the health of the farm.

La entrada The short-eared owl nests in our farm El Cerro se publicó primero en Bollo Naturalfruit.

Each animal was fitted with a metal ring containing a numerical code registered in a database where the date of ringing, the location and the species are reflected.

Thanks to the ringing, we can learn more about each species: its migration, longevity, mortality, feeding.

It is essential to know how and why populations change over time. For this reason, population monitoring is crucial to identify conservation problems and thanks to ringing we can carry out this tracking.

La entrada Bird ringing in Seville se publicó primero en Bollo Naturalfruit.

Lean Manufacturing is a management philosophy focused on maximising value not only for the customer but for the whole company and the people who make it up, through the reduction or elimination of waste and the continuous improvement of processes. In addition, an important point is the digitisation and reliability of information.

It originated in the Japanese automotive industry in the 1950s and was popularised by Toyota in the 1970s. The main focus of Lean Manufacturing is to improve quality, reduce costs and increase efficiency.

The wastes it seeks to eliminate or reduce are:

Overproduction: producing more than is needed, which generates unnecessary costs and the rest of the waste.

Defects: producing defective products that must be reprocessed or eliminated.

Waiting: any downtime waiting for a task to be completed or materials to be received.

Overprocessing: performing operations or tasks that are not necessary to produce the final product.

Transport: moving materials or products from one place to another without adding value.

Movements: unnecessary movements of people that are not ergonomically optimised and do not add value.

Inventory: holding large amounts of inventory to meet demand, which generates storage costs and possible obsolete material.

In summary, Lean Manufacturing has many benefits for the company, including reduced costs, improved quality, increased efficiency, improved lead time, greater flexibility and staff involvement. These benefits can help us improve profitability, become more competitive and increase customer satisfaction.

La entrada Lean Manufacturing in Bollo Natural Fruit se publicó primero en Bollo Naturalfruit.

How do we do it?

We select the top quality product and we sanitise it to remove any impurities from the skin. It is then left to drain until the rind has no visible signs of moisture.

Once dry, it is placed on the tray of the pneumatic slicer and cut into halves or quarters. Once cut, the internal quality is checked and any seeds that may be scattered around the cut are removed by hand.

The product is removed and passed to the conveyor belt which feeds it into the automatic shrink-wrapping chain. The chain initially wraps the product in a transparent film, which is then heated in a few seconds to create the so-called “second skin”, which fully protects the product.

Once the product has been shrink-wrapped, it goes directly to weighing and labelling. The scale automatically weighs each piece, printing a label that includes advice on storage temperature and consumption. Once the product has been weighed and labelled, it is packed manually in such a way that the pieces do not overlap in order to avoid crushing the pulp.

After packaging, the product is kept cold until it is loaded and then transported to the customer.

La entrada Bruñó presents its half-pieces melon and half and quarter pieces watermelon se publicó primero en Bollo Naturalfruit.

Its high brix level is one of its most important distinguishing features, making it one of the sweetest melons on the market.

Its medium size makes it versatile when it comes to quick consumption and easy to transport, aimed at new family models with fewer people and extended to our target public in a younger age range than usual, from 18 to 30 years old due to their lifestyle and smaller number of people in the household: Generation X Millenials, Generation Z and future Alphas.

A variety that comes from Korea and that we have adapted to European needs and standards of Bollo quality and taste, since the beginning of knowing it.

In addition, in 2021 it was selected by the consumer “Flavour of the Year” for its taste, appearance, smell, texture and overall satisfaction level.

 Would you like to try it?

La entrada Bollo Sweetheart Melon se publicó primero en Bollo Naturalfruit.

What is special about Verna lemons?

Venturing into the world of different varieties, we can say that the attributes of the Verna lemon are similar to that of the Fino, the most common variety in Europe. Verna lemons have an intense yellow colour, their skin is thicker than that of Fino lemons, and they have a characteristic long shape with pointed ends. It is a noteworthy variety as it has almost no seeds (only three or four per fruit) and a low acidity. Verna lemons originate from and are representative of the Vega del Segura area, although they are also grown in Andalusia, especially in Malaga province. In fact, it is a native Spanish species and unique in the world, giving it a special, distinct character.

We also have to mention that the season for these lemons perfectly complements the sales window for Fino lemons, given that the biggest proportion of the harvest takes place from the beginning of spring until the end of summer. This allows producers of European lemons grown in Spain to satisfy consumer demand.

The freshness of this lemon is linked to a very strict traceability system, which is applied from field to table and has a very low environmental impact. Thanks to all of this, we can safely say that European lemons are a healthy food with great benefits.

What are the properties of Verna lemons?

Lemons have lots of nutritional properties and health benefits, seeing as they are a natural food, fat free, and suitable for a healthy lifestyle. One of their most important properties is their high vitamin C content, which contributes to the normal formation of collagen and vitamin E. They also reduce fatigue and optimise the absorption of iron.

Without a doubt, the Verna lemon is one of the highest quality varieties in Spain, and special mention should go to its skin in the cooking industry, seeing as its texture helps to preserve its characteristic aroma. Likewise, its thickness increases its durability, allowing it to stay fresh for longer, and increasing the harvest window, so it can be enjoyed almost all year round. These characteristics make this lemon special and unique.

If you want to buy a lemon with a unique aroma, flavour and texture, choose The Natural Fruit.

About The Natural Fruit

The Natural Fruit Company is a union of the experience and vision of the future of leading companies in the citrus fruit sector, with a consolidated presence in large scale fruit distribution throughout Europe. A great team with proven experience now forms a great family, fully committed to the project, and keeping in mind sustainability, empathy, innovation and the excellence of their products.

La entrada Verna lemon characteristics and health benefits se publicó primero en Bollo Naturalfruit.

We bring you an enormous variety of products so you can incorporate them into your favourite dishes. Are you up for it? Here are a few tips and curious uses of citrus fruits in the kitchen, so you can use them to surprise and win over everyone.

Let’s begin with the most curious uses of citrus in the kitchen!

Did you know that you can use citrus juices in meat and fish stews? This especially applies to meat, which tends to go tough if not cooked properly. Orange or mandarin juice can quickly soften meat, balancing its fattiness and stopping it from going tough during cooking. It will also give the dish a gentle sweetness.

Take advantage of the versatility of citrus fruits!

You probably haven’t heard of soy and orange sauce. This tasty sauce is made from orange juice and soy sauce, and it can be used in a wide range of dishes, including roast chicken, pasta and even rice dishes.  Some people even add in a spoonful of honey. The mix of sweet flavours and the slightly acidic taste of the orange makes it exquisite. If you don’t believe us, we dare you to try it!

And of course, we should finish with a dessert.

Do you know what goes really well with mint, banana and yoghurt? We won’t keep you waiting… it’s lime and grapefruit! Adding some of the zest of these two citrus fruits to a banana-based ice-cream gives it a delicious and refreshing touch, and it also makes yoghurt extra creamy. Using citrus in the kitchen is always delicious. Be bold and make use of the versatility offered by citrus from The Natural Fruit!

La entrada The most curious uses of citrus in the kitchen se publicó primero en Bollo Naturalfruit.

The Natural Fruit Company wants to let you know about all the ways you can include this citrus fruit in your diet, and in this post we are going to show you the benefits of consuming lemon juice.

Do you know how lemon juice can benefit your body?

Lemons are fruits with a high juice content and lemon juice has the same properties and nutrients as the fruit, even when once it has been squeezed. A few years ago, there was a trending idea that a lemon juice fasting diet was a good way to lose weight, but there is no scientific evidence to back up this belief. Even though the supposed ‘miracle effects’ of the lemon juice fasting diet aren’t real, we can say that regularly including it in your eating habits does have certain health benefits.

1. It aids digestion

Thanks to its high levels of soluble fibre, a nutrient which is known to improve intestinal health, drinking lemon juice is an efficient aid to your digestion.

2. It’s anti-microbial

Various scientific studies have revealed that the juice of certain citrus fruits contains anti-microbial components which help to slow the growth of certain pathogenic bacteria.

Specifically, lemon juice might contribute to the elimination of strains of bacteria and fungi such as Candida albicans.

3. It’s good for your skin

Lemon juice helps to improve the health of your skin thanks to its high vitamin C content: it can stimulate collagen synthesis and help to protect against UV rays.

Furthermore, a recent study published in Food Chemistry demonstrated that citrus-based drinks, including lemon-based ones, can help prevent the appearance of wrinkles on hairless mice, evidence which suggests that similar effects may be seen in humans.

4. It prevents illness

Recent studies have determined that citrus fruits contain bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, limonoids, coumarins, carotenoids, phenolic acids and essential oils, all of which have health benefits, helping you to prevent illnesses associated with cardiovascular and neurological inflammation.

How do you make a lemon juice drink?

Ingredients

• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 glass of water (200 ml)
• Brown sugar or sweetener (optional)

Method

• Squeeze out the lemon juice, removing the seeds, and mix it with the glass of water.
• If you want, you can sweeten it with a little bit of brown sugar or sweetener. Stir to dissolve and enjoy!

La entrada Lemon juice: health benefits and properties se publicó primero en Bollo Naturalfruit.