Agrofrut Hellas, one of Greece’s largest citrus exporters, has always had one goal at the center of its operation: deliver top-quality fruit to demanding markets. However, achieving that standard was becoming harder. With rising volumes and an unstable labor market, maintaining quality consistency became a real challenge. Especially across multiple citrus varieties and evolving market demands.
Instead of hoping for better labour conditions or compromising on quality, Agrofrut invested in an Elisam citrus grader powered by Ellips True-AI grading technology.
The result? A high-capacity, AI-driven operation that now runs at over 40 tons per hour — with consistent quality, both inside and out, across all citrus varieties.
The investment has provided full control over sorting performance, product flow, and overall quality consistency, helping Agrofrut meet both its capacity goals and strict customer requirements, while reducing stress from labour dependency.
"This AI grading machine keeps us at the forefront as market leaders. With high capacity and consistent quality, we now have the opportunities—and the confidence—to meet diverse market demands."
Andreas Pantazis - Agrofrut Hellas
Following are just some of the improvements that Agrofrut Hellas achieved:
✅ High-capacity throughput — over 40 tons per hour
The new system comfortably runs above 40 tons/hour, supporting Agrofrut’s large-scale operation without compromising quality or creating bottlenecks.
✅ Consistent grading accuracy — both internal and external
The AI-powered system accurately detects defects like clear rot, scarring, punctures, albedo issues, and stem defects — ensuring consistent quality across all citrus varieties.
✅ Reduced labour dependency — more control, less uncertainty
With labour availability increasingly unpredictable, the automated system provides stability and reduces the operational stress tied to workforce fluctuations.
Watch all experiences of Andreas in this video:
About Agrofrut Hellas
A family-founded export powerhouse
Agrofrut Hellas, based in West Greece, is one of the country’s leading fruit exporters, with nearly 25 years of experience in delivering premium-quality agricultural products to markets across Europe. Founded in the early 2000s by Vassilis Pantazis and Virginia Schiza, the company was built on a multi-generational legacy of agricultural expertise.
Today, Agrofrut is the market leader in exporting Greek watermelon, and also one of the country’s largest citrus exporters, moving over 25,000 tons of oranges annually, along with significant volumes of mandarins, lemons, and white dried figs.
“At Agrofrut Hellas, we don’t just export fruit — we deliver trust, quality, and excellence in every shipment.”
Andreas Pantazis – Agrofrut Hellas
Built on quality, trust, and customer focus
Agrofrut’s growth has been driven by a simple principle: quality above all. Every product is held to strict international and client-specific standards, backed by full certifications in food safety and traceability. The company works hand-in-hand with trusted farmers and logistics partners to ensure a stable supply of fresh, high-quality produce throughout the year.
Agrofrut also brings a strong customer-centric mindset to every part of its operation, offering tailor-made solutions in packaging, delivery, and supply chain management to meet the unique needs of each market.
A forward-looking mindset
While rooted in tradition, Agrofrut Hellas is always looking ahead. Their 2024 investment in advanced AI-powered grading technology reflects a broader commitment to innovation, consistency, and operational excellence. The goal? To stay at the forefront of global citrus exports, not just in volume, but in accuracy, reliability, and long-term customer satisfaction.
Key challenges driving change
Agrofrut Hellas was operating at scale, but scaling with stability was becoming more difficult. With tens of thousands of tons of citrus moving through the packhouse, and export markets demanding greater consistency, the team needed a solution to safeguard quality and efficiency in the face of increasing pressure.
1. Labour instability threatens consistency
The seasonal labour market has become increasingly unpredictable. Staffing shortages and fluctuating availability made it harder to rely on manual processes, especially during peak periods when large volumes needed to be sorted quickly and accurately.
“The current labour market is very fluid. We needed a consistent machine to help us keep the quality, no matter the labour conditions.”
Andreas Pantazis – Agrofrut Hellas
2. Export markets expect more
International customers, especially in premium segments, expect citrus that meets high standards for internal and external quality. Consistency across varieties like Newhall, Navelines, and Valencia is essential to meet customer expectations in Europe.
3. Productivity pressure could impact delivery and quality
As volumes continued to grow, Agrofrut faced increasing pressure to process large quantities of citrus quickly and efficiently. Labour limitations and operational strain could make it harder to keep up, especially during peak season. Without the right technology in place, there was a growing risk of delays, inconsistent grading, or missed delivery windows. In a competitive market where timing and quality both matters, maintaining productivity without compromise became a key priority.
Choosing the right partner & technology
Agrofrut Hellas approached the decision with care. The team visited several companies already working with similar grading technology, spoke directly with users, and observed the systems in action. The consistent feedback, combined with what they saw firsthand, led them to a clear conclusion: Ellips-Elisam was the right fit for their citrus operation.
For Agrofrut, it wasn’t just about upgrading equipment. It was about choosing a partner that could help them maintain high quality, increase stability in their operations, and stay at the forefront of technological innovation in fresh produce.
“We are very satisfied with the hardware — it’s top quality. The software is reliable and gives us a lot of flexibility to meet different market demands. And the team? Absolutely spectacular. We’re very happy working with them.”
Andreas Pantazis – Agrofrut Hellas
What were the main motivations for choosing Ellips-Elisam?
Agrofrut selected the Elisam-Ellips solution to support its growth ambitions and meet the increasing demands of international markets. The decision was based on three key factors:
1. High-quality machinery that matches our ambition
“We are very satisfied with the hardware, that seems to be on the highest quality. It looks clean, it feels well built, and we believe it’s made for long-term use. The machine handles citrus smoothly and runs at a high speed without damaging the fruit. That’s exactly what we were looking for, something reliable that can support our operation and deliver consistent performance.”
2. Advanced grading technology that meets our quality standards
“The Ellips software gives us a lot of flexibility to meet different market demands. It allows us to fine-tune the settings depending on the variety or the customer, and still keep the quality consistent. The system is very accurate, it detects challenging defects like clear rot, scarring, punctures, albedo, stem defects, and many more. That helps us deliver exactly the quality our customers expect, and protect the value of every box we ship.”
3. A team we trust — and enjoy working with
“We’re very happy working with them. Everyone in the chain of command has been absolutely spectacular. It’s not just about the machine, it’s the people behind it. From the beginning, the relationship felt strong. We felt supported, and we trust the team. That makes a big difference when you’re introducing new technology into your operation.”
The results speak for themselves
“With the Elisam grading machine and Ellips AI, we’ve gained stability, speed, and confidence. We can now deliver consistent quality at high capacity, with less pressure from labour — and more control over everything that matters.”
Andreas Pantazis – Agrofrut Hellas
Following are just some of the improvements that Agrofrut Hellas achieved:
✅ High-capacity throughput — over 40 tons per hour
The new system comfortably runs above 40 tons/hour, supporting Agrofrut’s large-scale operation without compromising quality or creating bottlenecks.
✅ Consistent grading accuracy — both internal and external
The AI-powered system accurately detects defects like clear rot, scarring, punctures, albedo issues, and stem defects — ensuring consistent quality across all citrus varieties.
✅ Reduced labour dependency — more control, less uncertainty
With labour availability increasingly unpredictable, the automated system provides stability and reduces the operational stress tied to workforce fluctuations.
More capacity, with more control
“We’re now running over 40 tons per hour, and the machine allows us to handle large volumes at a consistently high standard. It helps us stay on top of our daily targets, and we can do that without needing extra labour. It’s not just a solution for today, it’s something that gives us confidence for the seasons ahead too.”
Consistency across every variety
“We work with oranges, mandarins, lemon, and for each one, this system gives us the precision we need. It detects challenging defects, and lets us meet specific quality requirements for each market. That level of control helps us keep our reputation strong and make sure every shipment meets expectations”
Operational stability with less labor stress
“Seasonal labour is getting harder to plan for, and the setup we have now really helps with that. We don’t have to rely so much on the workforce. Even when availability changes, we know quality and productivity will stay stable. It’s just a smoother, more stable way to run a high-volume business like ours.”
