Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in Russia, Russia is one of the world's five largest importers of bananas. The main supplier of bananas to Russia is Ecuador, which accounts for approximately 95% of all banana shipments.  The remaining 5% is divided between the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, etc.

Few people know, but a banana bush yields only once in a lifetime! From a small sprout, a 3-meter plant grows in 9 months, on which only one flower appears and in 3 months one banana bunch, weighing about 20 kg, ripens. After harvesting, the bush is cut down.

Before shipping, bananas are sorted, washed and packed, and they are also carefully monitored so that no ripe banana gets into the batch, since such an "uninvited guest" will spoil the whole batch, a ripe banana releases ethylene gas, which accelerates the ripening of other green bananas.. At a temperature of about 12 degrees, bananas greatly slow down the ripening process, and they can be stored for up to 90 days. 

Bananas imported to Vladivostok are subject to mandatory declaration of conformity in accordance with the technical regulations of the Customs Union 021/2011 On food Safety and 022/2011 Food products in terms of their labeling, as well as mandatory passage of phytosanitary control.

The declaration confirms that the imported goods comply with the required state standards, and phytosanitary control is necessary to ensure that dangerous pests and plant diseases are not imported into the territory of the Russian Federation with a batch of bananas. It is necessary to obtain a permit for the import of quarantined products from the phytosanitary service every time a new batch of goods is imported. Bananas, like many other fruits and vegetables, belong to goods with a high phytosanitary risk. According to this, upon arrival of a batch of goods, the inspectors of the phytosanitary service take samples and samples, which are then sent to VNIIKR for examination. 

If no "passengers" in the form of insects and diseases are detected in the laboratory,cargoreceives a "release allowed" mark from phytosanitary specialists.It remains only to issue a customs declaration for the cargo to issue a customs declaration for the cargo, after which the bananas can be taken from the temporary storage warehouse.

Bananas are perishable cargo, so you always need to carefully check the documents provided by exporters, make all the necessary certificates in advance, submit applications and accompanying documents to the inspection authorities.