Stock Receival and Conditioning Procedure

Purpose. Describes the step by step process for receiving, inspecting, recording and conditioning cut flowers and foliage at any site.

1.Before the delivery arrives

The receiving worker must clear the receival bench, sanitise buckets with the approved cleaner, fill buckets with clean water at room temperature and add preservative at the labelled rate. Knives must be sharp and clean. The delivery order must be open in the Stock Intake Register ready for counting.

2.Unloading

Boxes and buckets must be unloaded using the trolley and the two-person lift for anything over 15 kilograms. Stock must be moved to the receival bench immediately and never left in the sun or in the van. Stock arriving in water must be checked to confirm water is still present.

3.Inspection

Each line must be counted against the order and inspected for bud stage, stem condition, foliage yellowing, botrytis, bruising, pests and soil. Problems must be photographed and recorded on the Stock Receival and Condition Check Form. Any line with live insects must be sealed in a bag and reported to the Buying and Stock Coordinator before anything else is done.

• Count each bunch and stem where the order is by stem
• Check the bud stage matches the intended use
• Reject product with mould, bruising or pests

4.Conditioning steps

Remove sleeves, ties and any foliage that will sit below the water line. Recut at least two centimetres from each stem at an angle with a clean knife. Place stems immediately into the prepared bucket. Woody stems must be cut and split, hollow stems filled, and stems that bleed sap sealed as set out in the conditioning chart on the bench wall. Ethylene sensitive flowers must be treated with the anti-ethylene product at the labelled rate.

5.Labelling and storage

Every bucket must be labelled with the flower name, variety, supplier code and the date received. Buckets must be placed in the cool room in date order with the oldest stock at the front. Tropical product must go to the tropical zone. The Stock Intake Register entry must be completed with the condition grade and any wastage.

6.Clean up

Foliage waste must be composted, plastic sleeves recycled and the bench and floor cleaned and dried before the next task. Knives must be cleaned and returned to the tool rack. Any cut or injury must be reported immediately.