Before You Start
Before sourcing fresh produce from Thailand, it helps to have a short list of basics ready. Buyers who arrive prepared with these details get accurate quotations within one business day; buyers who arrive empty-handed often spend a week going back and forth before pricing can be confirmed.
You should be able to answer six questions, even roughly:
- Which products — names, varieties, grades.
- Destination — country and (if known) airport or seaport.
- Volume — per shipment or per month.
- Shipment method — air or sea (or "not sure" — we will recommend).
- Packaging needs — standard cartons, your private label, count-per-carton.
- Certificate needs — phytosanitary, origin, halal, FDA, etc., as your destination requires.
1. Choose the Right Product Category
TCLIfreshproduce supplies four broad product families. Picking the right one early helps narrow seasonality, packaging and certificate decisions.
- Fresh fruits — Nam Dok Mai mango, dragon fruit, longan, durian, mangosteen, coconut, rambutan, pineapple.
- Fresh vegetables — bird's-eye chili, ginger, lemongrass, galangal, Thai eggplant, baby corn, okra, kaffir lime leaves.
- Ethnic / Asian specialty foods — Thai herbs, curry sets, dried spices, ready-to-cook packs.
- Seasonal products — premium-grade SKUs that ship only in their peak window (mango, mangosteen, longan).
View Fresh Fruits · View Fresh Vegetables · View Specialty Foods
2. Check Seasonal Availability
Thai fruits and vegetables vary by season. Some SKUs are year-round; others have a tight peak window. Use the table below as a starting point and confirm specifics with us at quotation.
| Product | Common Season | Shipment Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Mango (Nam Dok Mai) | Mar–Jun | Air / Sea |
| Mangosteen | May–Aug | Air |
| Longan | Jun–Aug | Air / Sea |
| Durian (Monthong) | May–Sep | Sea (frozen) / Air |
| Dragon Fruit | May–Nov | Air / Sea |
| Coconut | Year-round | Sea |
| Pineapple | Year-round | Sea |
| Chili | Year-round | Air / Sea |
| Ginger | Year-round | Sea |
| Lemongrass | Year-round | Air / Sea |
3. Choose Shipment Method
Air freight and sea reefer cover almost every fresh-produce export use case. The right choice depends on shelf life, value-per-kilo, and destination distance.
| Method | Best For | Speed | Cost | Product Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Freight | High-value, short-shelf-life SKUs | 1–3 days | Higher per kg | Mango, mangosteen, longan, fresh herbs |
| Sea Freight (reefer) | Container volume, longer shelf life | 14–30 days | Lower per kg | Coconut, pineapple, dragon fruit, frozen, dried |
4. Understand FOB, CNF, and CIF
Three incoterms cover almost every fresh-produce shipment. Pick the one that matches your supply-chain setup.
- FOB — we handle sourcing, packing, documents, and loading on the vessel/plane. You handle freight, insurance, and import clearance. Right when you have your own freight forwarder.
- CNF — FOB plus we handle freight to your destination port. You handle insurance and clearance. Right when you want one quote covering the freight.
- CIF — FOB plus freight plus insurance to your destination port. You handle import clearance only. Right when you want a single bundled quote.
5. Prepare Required Information for Quotation
The faster we can quote you, the faster you can plan. The list below is what we ask every new buyer to send.
- Product name (and variety/grade if known)
- Estimated quantity
- Destination country
- Airport or seaport
- Shipment method
- Incoterm
- Packaging requirement
- Required certificates
- Target shipment date
6. Confirm Quality, Packing, and Documents
Once a quotation is accepted, the next conversation is about specifics: which grade, which carton, which documents.
- Product grade — Premium, A Grade, or Standard.
- Sorting and grading — done at the packhouse against the agreed spec; photos shared on request.
- Packing format — standard cartons, ventilated, foam mesh; private label optional.
- Labelling — destination-language labels and carton marks.
- Phytosanitary certificate — required by most destinations.
- Certificate of Origin — confirms Thai origin for tariff purposes.
- Commercial invoice + packing list — customs essentials.
Required documents vary by product type, destination country, and buyer requirements. Confirm specifics at quotation.
7. Request a Quote
When you have the information from sections 1–6 ready, the easiest next step is the Request a Quote form. We come back within one business day with price, lead time, packaging, freight method, and incoterm.
Final Buyer Checklist
- Product selected
- Season checked
- Quantity confirmed
- Destination prepared
- Shipment method selected
- Incoterm selected
- Packaging needs confirmed
- Documents clarified
Related questions
- How fast will TCLI reply to my inquiry?
- Within one business day in most cases. Complex multi-SKU container loads or unusual destinations may take 2–3 days.
- Do I need to know my incoterm before requesting a quote?
- No. Pick "Not sure" on the form and we will recommend the incoterm that fits your supply-chain setup.
- Can I order a small trial shipment first?
- Yes — small air-freight trial orders typically ship within 7–14 days of confirmation. Tick the "Sample" hint in the message field on the quote form.