Fruits and vegetables As a trusted partner, we maintain our direct and fair relationships with local farmers. We place great emphasis on protecting, preserving and supporting local structures. We prioritize Romanian production, and our goal is to offer at least 80% of our selection of fruits and vegetables from Romanian sources during the months of availability. Availability months refer to the production season in Romania for a certain product, such as September which is recognized as one of the seasonal months for most apple species in Romania. To ensure the optimal operational flow and to meet the needs of our customers, we choose vegetable and fruit suppliers based on two essential criteria: z production volume, z customers' favorite assortments. By establishing firm purchase commitments at the beginning of the growing period, we ensure the necessary supply of products, while providing producers with the guarantee of a reliable customer. Depending on the season, we extend the availability period of local products. z By purchasing fruits and vegetables from local suppliers, we guarantee the freshness of the products, offer our customers advantageous prices and contribute to reducing the carbon footprint associated with their transport. z We collaborate with seasonal producers in Romania based on seasonal planning and strive to collaborate with local producers located in the vicinity of our logistics centers. z The process of local procurement of vegetables and fruits is carried out in compliance with the requirements of the Global Gap standards for the certification of agricultural products, also considering the zoning of crops. z We develop and expand laboratory analyses to monitor pesticide residues. z Zoning involves allocating crops to regions with optimal ecological conditions for obtaining a consistent harvest and exploiting their biological potential. For example, we source roots from Dobrogea, a wide variety of vegetables from the Galati County area, apples, pears, and grapes from the northeast of the country, and potatoes we bring from central Romania. z We aim to develop regions specialized in the production of vegetables and fruits, adapted to the soil characteristics of each area, but we also have local producers who supply only certain platforms. z We are actively engaged in supporting local producers, even getting involved in the technological processes carried out by them, aiding in terms of treatments applied to products or in the purchase of seedlings. z We offer our partners access to qualified personnel to assist them in applying the appropriate treatments for each type of product. SUSTAINABILITY STEP BY STEP CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BUSINESS SUSTAINABLE ASSORTMENT ENERGY, CLIMATE AND RESOURCES EMPLOYEES AND SOCIETY GRI & SASB INDEX ASSURANCE OF SELECTED NON-FINANCIAL INDICATORS
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