Onions Inspection in Sharqia, Egypt

Pre-shipment onion inspection in Sharqia — ISO 17020-accredited quality control by FoodGate Audit. Giza 6 cultivar focus, February to August season.

About Onions from Sharqia

Region overview: Egypt's largest fresh-produce belt, located in the eastern Nile Delta. Capital city Zagazig sits at the heart of the governorate.

Climate: Mediterranean to semi-arid, with mild winters (10-18°C) and hot summers (25-38°C). Most fresh produce is grown under controlled conditions including drip irrigation and protected greenhouses.

Cultivars exported from Sharqia: Giza 6, Giza 20, Red Creole, Texas Grano.

Export season: February to August.

Typical export value: €0.20-0.60 per kg FOB.

Top buyer countries: Russia, EU, UK, Far East, Gulf.

Logistics from Sharqia

Fast access to Damietta and Port Said ports for export shipments to EU/Russia. Cairo Airport is 90 minutes from packhouses for air-freight high-value commodities.

Pre-shipment inspection considerations

MRL focus areas for onions from this region: Maleic hydrazide, Spinetoram, Acetamiprid. FoodGate recommends pesticide residue testing at accredited laboratories before EU/UK shipments, particularly for first-time suppliers or new cultivars.

Common defects to inspect for: Sprouting, neck rot (Botrytis allii), bacterial soft rot, double bulbs, splits.

Expected shelf life: 90-180 days under proper cold-chain conditions.

Region-specific notes: Most modern packhouses are concentrated around Belbeis, 10th of Ramadan, and Bilbeis Industrial Zone. Cold storage capacity is generally good but pre-cooling can be inconsistent at older facilities.

FoodGate Audit's process for onion inspections in Sharqia

  1. Briefing: client shares cultivar, sizing, MRL targets, packaging spec, target market.
  2. Scheduling: inspection booked at the packhouse 24-48h ahead of container loading.
  3. On-site inspection: ISO 2859 sampling, visual inspection, sizing, brix (where applicable), peel/skin assessment, packaging integrity.
  4. Photo documentation: 40+ photos covering pallet condition, individual fruits, defects observed, container loading.
  5. Sampling for laboratory (if required): pesticide residue, mycotoxin, microbiological — composite samples per Commission Directive 2002/63/EC.
  6. Report delivery: PDF report in your inbox within 24 hours of inspection completion.

Pricing

Every inspection is quoted individually based on shipment size and scope, with volume discounts for ongoing partnerships. Free quote within 24 hours.

Request a Free Quote → Learn more about Pre-Shipment Inspection

Related coverage

FoodGate Audit covers all major Egyptian agricultural regions and all major export categories. See also:

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