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Can we arrange third-party inspection (SGS / Eurofins)?
Yes. Top supports third-party inspection and testing by SGS, Eurofins or an agreed lab at buyer cost. OptionsPre-shipment sampling plus lab verification (Brix, total acid, total flavonoids, patulin per GB 5009.185, heavy metals, micro), and factory audit.We share the lot number and retention sample so the inspector draws representatively. Tell Top which parameters and which lab, and we will coordinate the appointment and incorporate the result into the shipment documents.For hawthorn, we particularly recommend the patulin (GB 5009.185) plus flavonoid HPLC to confirm natural profile and safety.
What is your sustainability and responsible-sourcing approach?
Top sources Crataegus pinnatifida fruit through contracted northern-China orchards (Shandong, Hebei, Liaoning, Shanxi) with a fruit-to-concentrate ledger (origin → harvest → extraction → concentrate). Hawthorn is a farmed orchard crop (not wild-harvested, not CITES), so sourcing is traceable and sustainable by cultivation.The aqueous route uses purified water and cleanroom filling (low environmental load, no organic solvent). Buyers can request a supply-chain / origin declaration and (for dedicated lots) organic certification.We aim for transparent, documentable sourcing rather than vague natural claims. Because hawthorn is a seasonal, weather-sensitive crop, we emphasize fair, documented fruit sourcing and buffer stock to protect buyers from...
How do you handle shipping and freight?
Top ships worldwide by sea or air under the agreed Incoterm. For sea we use FCL / LCL from Shanghai / Qingdao; for air, DHL / FedEx / airline cargo.Hawthorn concrete is low-hazard (food concentrate, non-DG under normal carriage), but we still ship it with an SDS where applicable and use qualified forwarders. We provide tracking and can handle door-to-door or port-to-port.Freight is quoted separately from the product FOB price; tell Top your destination port / airport and preferred mode for a quote.
What is the shelf life and how should it be stored?
Shelf Life36 months from production (sealed, cool, dark, away from air; a fruit concentrate with sugars/acid can ferment or mould if exposed — UHT sterilization plus aseptic filling protect it). Strict ProtectionKeep away from light, heat and air, store below about 4-25C (refrigeration recommended for long storage), FIFO rotation, sealed packs.Top adds a preservative within food-regulatory limits on request and can provide a real-time + accelerated study. Re-test before the end of shelf life.The COA notes the production date and recommended storage. Because it is water-based with Brix, avoid freeze-thaw cycling that can break the emulsion/separate.
Is hawthorn concrete seasonal, and how does that affect availability?
Yes — Crataegus pinnatifida fruits over an autumn harvest window and the fresh fruit is perishable, so fruit supply is seasonal and crop-dependent (weather and yield swing price and availability). Because the concentrate is a processed food extract, the concentrate itself can be buffered (Top keeps some stock), but large or steady volumes need planning.Top keeps buffer stock of standard grades and contracts fruit volume; for large or steady volumes we recommend an LTA to reserve extraction slots and stabilize price against crop swings. We communicate fruit-market conditions on each quotation.
What is your sample policy for hawthorn concrete?
Top supports evaluation with 5-10 g samples (sometimes up to about 20 g for qualified buyers), drawn from current stock or a fresh extraction, shipped with COA plus assay (Brix / total acid / flavonoids / patulin). Samples are usually charged at the sample-tier price (or free for strategic / qualified accounts) plus freight.We recommend requesting the sample from the same lot you intend to purchase so the Brix / acid / flavonoid profile and patulin status match your production batch. Sample lead time is short (stock) or aligned with the next extraction window.Tell Top your application and preferred grade...
How much do samples cost and how fast do they ship?
Sample CostThe sample-tier unit price for 5-10 g (often waived for qualified / strategic buyers) plus international freight. Lead TimeStock samples 3-7 days; if a fresh extraction lot is needed, 10-20 days (fruit sourcing plus extraction plus concentration plus QC including patulin).Top can express-ship via DHL / FedEx. As a low-hazard food concentrate, samples ship with an SDS where applicable. Provide your courier account or let Top quote the freight.
What is your returns and refund policy?
Because this is a natural, batch-specific food concentrate, returns are handled case-by-case. If Top's own lot data (COA plus assay) confirms a specification failure, we arrange replacement or refund of the affected quantity; return of unused, sealed material may be requested for verification.For buyer-side issues (wrong grade ordered, changed mind), returns are by mutual agreement and may incur restocking. All returns/refunds follow the signed contract and Incoterms; we keep the process transparent and documented.
Which plant part is the concrete extracted from?
From the hawthorn fruit (berry-like pome) — flesh and skin, after washing and pitting (the seed/stone is removed). Top's COA states "raw material: hawthorn fruit (Crataegus pinnatifida)".Not leaf, flower or bark. The fruit is the medicinal/food part in medicine-food dual-use, and the concentrate carries the characteristic hawthorn fruit-acid / fruity note (malic acid, citric acid, flavonoids).Because it is a fruit concentrate, it is a viscous liquid / paste (not a waxy floral concrete and not a volatile oil).