Clean-Label Orange Ingredient for Food Manufacturers

Why choose premium freeze-dried orange segments for your clean-label products?

Premium freeze-dried orange segments combine vivid citrus colour, natural aroma and a light, crunchy texture that adds visible fruit appeal to snacks, breakfast cereals, beverage powders and confectionery inclusions. The low-temperature sublimation process preserves volatile flavour compounds and vitamin C better than many thermal dryers while producing a lightweight ingredient that reduces freight cost-per-fruit-unit — a tangible advantage for brands scaling seasonal SKUs. Use whole segments or broken pieces for visual impact, or powders for drink systems and instant mixes.

Which packaging and shelf-life options are available for premium freeze-dried orange segments?

Quick spec summary (values are typical and customizable):

• Ingredient: 100% orange (no added sugar or preservatives)

• Cuts available: Slices, segments, dices, chunks, and broken pieces (custom cuts on request)

• Moisture: ≤ 5% (target; final water activity typically ≤ 0.30) 

• Shelf life: 18–24 months under dry, ambient storage (cool, away from light). 

• Microbiology (typical limits): TPC ≤ 50,000 CFU/g; Yeasts & Molds ≤ 500 CFU/g; Coliforms ≤ 500 MPN/g; Pathogens — not detected in 25 g. 

• Additives: None (clean-label). Allergen control and separation protocols in place.

• Packaging (bulk/OEM): Inner double PE or aluminium foil liner + five-layer corrugated export cartons; retail pouches and private label formats available. 

• MOQ & lead time (typical): MOQ commonly starts from ~300 kg; lead time ~15–25 days (volume and season dependent). 

• Certifications: USDA/EU organic options and facility certifications available (BRC, ISO22000, HACCP, Halal, Kosher, FDA-ready documentation). 

How to validate on receipt: check moisture & water activity, visual colour/odour, breakage rate and COA/micro report. For R&D, request a small engineering sample to confirm rehydration behaviour and mouthfeel in your target application.

Real-World FAQ

Q1 — Are samples available for evaluation and who pays freight?
Yes — standard 100–300 g evaluation samples are common. Many suppliers cover sample cost; express freight is often quoted collect or credited against a sampled first PO. Ask for sample terms in your initial inquiry. 

Q2 — What are typical trade terms: FOB or CIF?
Both FOB (buyer nominates forwarder) and CIF (seller quotes to port with insurance) are supported; request quotes for both to compare landed cost. Mixed-load shipping with other FD fruits is possible to optimize freight. 

Q3 — How does the factory control quality and traceability?
Look for full farm-to-factory traceability, IQF pre-freezing records, batch COAs, retention samples and documented allergen control. Factory audits (BRC or ISO) and third-party lab testing provide extra assurance.

Q4 — What is the MOQ and how seasonal sourcing is handled?
MOQs often start around 300 kg per SKU; year-round availability is achieved through contracted orchards and safety stock strategies. If you need continuous supply, negotiate rolling monthly volumes and seasonal terms upfront. 

Q5 — How are breakage and packing KPIs managed?
For fragile slices/segments, request packing trials with inner supports (trays, reduced headspace), lower per-carton fill or special voiding to meet a target “% broken” KPI.

Q6 — What export documents will I receive?
Standard: COA, micro test report, packing list, commercial invoice, export health certificate (if requested), and facility certification copies on request. These support customs clearance and retailer onboarding. 

Q7 — Can you support organic/retailer audits?
Yes — suppliers with USDA/EU Organic and BRC/HACCP track records can provide audit packs and arrange client audits or third-party inspector visits.

How MerryTime Helps

• Single-source program: consistent cuts (segments, slices, dices) from contracted farms to reduce SKU fragmentation.

• Compliance & export readiness: documentation and certifications for EU/US/Middle East markets, easing retailer onboarding. 

• Flexible logistics: FOB/CIF quoting, mixed loads (combine with mango, banana, etc.), and palletization optimized to reduce breakage. 

• OEM & private label: artwork templates, pouch formats, and barcode support to shorten time-to-shelf.

• Application support: sample sets, rehydration guidance, and small-batch pilot runs for co-development.

Call to action: Share your target cut (segments/slices), pack size and destination port — MerryTime will return a sample plan, COA and FOB/CIF quote within one business cycle.