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During the summer months, consumers buy more fresh produce and flowers. The logistics industry takes steps to transport these goods safely and efficiently.

These delicate and perishable products require special handling to ensure that they arrive fresh and in perfect condition. Many of these products travel long distances before they reach their destination and may even be imported. According the National Center for Appropriate Technologies, an average fruit or vegetable travels 1,500 miles to reach a table.

For retailers, a successful summer season means selecting carriers equipped with temperature-controlled solutions and cold chain management experience to preserve the freshness of these goods throughout their transportation journey.

Key Considerations

Maintaining the ideal temperature to preserve perishable items like fruit and flowers is a major challenge when transporting them. Temperature changes are affected by distance and transit time. Even a few degrees can have a significant impact on the quality of perishable goods.

Second, regionality plays a role. Some perishables are sensitive to temperature and humidity changes, which can vary from region to region. Fresh produce may need different handling and storage depending on the season and location. Maintaining product quality requires adapting to regional changes, and adjusting shipping protocol. Each temperature-controlled truckload of perishable goods requires an individual strategy to ensure it maintains a consistent environment while in transit.

Shippers should also consider the type of load when preparing for refrigerated shipments. It is not recommended to ship fish and florals in the same trailer, despite both requiring refrigerated transportation. Two different types of produce, bananas and lettuce, would be a more detailed example. It is important that shippers understand the science behind their shipments. Bananas emit natural gasses which can affect the freshness and quality of lettuce. It is important that shippers know what can and cannot go together. A carrier with experience will be able to optimize efficiency by understanding these nuances.

Perishable goods are often subject to strict standards and regulations relating to food safety, including temperature control, sanitation and labeling. This is done in order to ensure that the products are safe and secure throughout the supply chain. Failure to comply with the requirements can lead to fines, penalties, and other legal repercussions which can be detrimental to a business.

Here, refrigerated carriers are crucial. They provide a controlled environment that ensures the integrity of shipments. A carrier that is suitable will address all of these challenges.

Find trusted carriers

It is important to select carriers who offer reliable refrigerated transportation in order to ensure the success of perishable shipment. Shippers should look for carriers who go above and beyond in maintaining strict standards of freshness and quality.

Shippers can use reliability, consistency, equipment, and experience as criteria to select the right refrigerated carrier. All these qualities will help you navigate and solve any challenges.

Let’s say that a shipper from a large supermarket chain in the Midwest is required to transport a load of refrigerated goods from Mexico. While there are complexities to moving goods across the border, a trusted temperature-controlled carrier with the right expertise can execute the process. They will have established relationships with growers and carriers, as well as access to or ownership of cross-dock facilities that keep goods moving.

A carrier with experience in nearshoring, relationships and facilities is able to move loads across the border while getting products on shelves fresh.

Keep It Fresh

Shippers and carriers need to be flexible in order to adapt to the ever-changing landscape. This means that you need to have reliable refrigerated transportation during the busy summer months.

Summer can be a busy time, but it is also a good time for shippers and their carriers to evaluate them. When transporting produce and flowers, it is important to choose carriers that adhere the highest standards of service.

James Holloway is the director of logistics for Werner. He helps to lead business growth and ensure that customers receive the support they require.

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