Leafy vegetables are the truest test of an exporter’s cold chain, and spinach is the strictest examiner of all. A successful Egyptian spinach export program is won or lost in the first six hours after cutting: field heat out, temperature down to near zero, humidity locked at 95%+. Get that right and Egyptian winter spinach — available November through March — lands in Gulf and European markets with the deep-green color and turgid leaf that buyers pay for.
PEIVANA, the flexible Egyptian exporter of the PEI Trade family, runs fresh spinach as a fast-rotation winter leaf program: harvest today, pack today, cool tonight, ship on the next sailing from Alexandria, Damietta, Sokhna or Port Said — or fly it for premium accounts. Here is the specification importers should hold us to.
Types and Grades
Egyptian export spinach is a flat-to-semi-savoy leaf type cut as whole young plants or clipped leaves:
- Class 1 (retail): uniform dark-green leaves, 10–20 cm, turgid, free of yellowing, flower stems, mud and pest damage; roots fully removed on clipped-leaf spec.
- Bunched spec: whole plants tied in 250–500 g bunches with trimmed root plate — the standard for Arab and Gulf markets.
- Baby leaf: 5–8 cm leaves for salad programs, packed loose in lined boxes — air freight only.
Sizes & Specifications
| Spec | Leaf length | Presentation | Typical market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby leaf | 5–8 cm | Loose, lined carton | EU salad processors, air |
| Standard leaf | 10–15 cm | Loose or bunched | EU/UK retail |
| Large leaf / bunched | 15–25 cm | Bunches 250–500 g | Gulf retail and wholesale |
Packing Formats
| Format | Net weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lined open-top carton | 4–5 kg | Perforated liner holds humidity |
| Plastic crate, lined | 5–6 kg | Gulf sea programs |
| Bunches in carton | 10–12 bunches | 250–500 g per bunch |
| Bags in carton (baby leaf) | 500 g – 1 kg | Air freight, retail-ready |
Season: November to March
Cool Delta winters give spinach its window from November through March, peaking December–February when leaf quality is at its best and heat stress is zero. Position it alongside cabbage, lettuce and herbs using the Egyptian produce seasons calendar.
QC Checkpoints — the Fast Cold Chain
Spinach respires faster than almost any vegetable we ship, so our checkpoints are clock-driven:
- Cut before 9 a.m. — harvesting stops as field temperature rises.
- Packhouse within 2–4 hours: wash (where specified), sort out yellow and damaged leaves, pack into lined cartons.
- Pre-cool same day to 0–2°C; carriage at 0–1°C, 95–98% RH.
- No ethylene co-loads: spinach yellows fast next to melons or ripening fruit.
- Lot traceability and MRL analysis — leafy crops face the tightest residue scrutiny in the EU; every program ships with lab results.
Mixed-Container Fit
Fresh spinach runs at 0–1°C, so it pallets up perfectly with cabbage, lettuce, carrots and herbs in a mixed produce container from Egypt. In the winter program it also slots into our winter mixed container with citrus and onions for buyers consolidating a full seasonal range in one reefer. As the flexible exporter, PEIVANA will build a leaf block of 2–4 pallets into any compatible load.
FAQ
How long does fresh spinach last in transit?
At 0–1°C and 95%+ humidity, spinach holds 10–14 days from packing — comfortable for Gulf sea transits and air-supported EU programs.
Do you ship washed or unwashed spinach?
Both. Gulf bunched spec usually ships field-fresh with trimmed roots; EU clipped-leaf and baby-leaf specs are washed and dried before packing.
Is frozen spinach also available?
Yes — IQF and block frozen spinach run year-round as a separate program, useful for buyers who want a fresh winter line backed by frozen continuity.
Get a Spinach Quotation
Start from the spinach product page, then send leaf spec, pack format and destination. You will get a same-day quote. Contact PEIVANA or message us on WhatsApp.