KENYA · GUIDE 0004 · EDITION 4.2
Terere Harvest and Delivery: Bunch and Quality Records
Make the stall’s selling window part of the harvest plan
For a terere retailer, a usable delivery has the agreed leaf tenderness and bunch composition and arrives when customers can still buy it. A well-grown harvest delivered after the stall’s normal vegetable-shopping period may remain unsold. Confirm the receiving time and buyer’s inspection process before scheduling a picking session.
Identify the crop and record the lot
Label the planting source and trial bed. Before arranging a harvest, separate the identified crop from unwanted growth with competent local guidance. Do not offer uncertain plant material as edible produce based on visual similarity alone. Retain the crop and bed reference with the harvest date so a buyer complaint can be traced to the relevant lot.
Follow one lot through the route
| Stage | Record | Check before continuing |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | Source, bed reference and picking date | The intended crop is identified and the bed is distinguishable from unwanted growth |
| Sorting | Gross harvest, unsuitable material and sorting time | Leaves and stems match the retailer’s requested composition |
| Bunching | Reference bunch, completed count and buyer allocation | Sizes and composition are consistent with the agreed sale unit |
| Dispatch | Crate, departure time and destination | The load is protected against avoidable crushing and delay |
| Handover | Arrival, accepted count and exceptions | The correct retailer receives the agreed quantity |
| Review | Paid sales, returns and retailer feedback | Unsold or wilted stock is recorded separately from paid sales |
Use a weighed reference bunch where the retailer agrees to it, while recording the actual sale unit. If the customer requests a mixed bundle with another vegetable, document the components separately and re-cost the additional work.
Investigate the stage where the loss occurred
Weeds mixed into a bunch call for a bed and sorting review. Bunches acceptable at packing but wilted on arrival call for a route and handling review. Leaves accepted by the retailer but left unsold may require a change to arrival time, order quantity or returns terms. Keep those causes separate instead of describing every loss as poor harvest yield.
The World Vegetable Center’s Kenya manual provides general amaranth-production guidance that requires local adaptation. It does not establish a specific shelf life, buyer commitment or verified farm result. Keep customer information private, reconcile cash actually collected, and expand the route only after the initial arrangement can be met reliably.