Perishable food shipments make vegetables available to different parts of the country all year round. It’s an exciting innovation that we tend to take for granted, but it takes great planning to get it right. Delivery must occur within a specific time frame, and it’s important that items are packed properly and insulated. Here are some tips to help you plan the transport of perishable goods.
Spoilage
In the US alone, spoilage accounts for up to 25% of the food waste in fruits and vegetables. That’s a loss of almost half the economic value of a crop, and the quality is also reduced during transit. Spoilage is caused by numerous factors, but the most widely accepted is variation in temperatures. As the cargo travels throughout the country, intermodal containers regulate that temperature. If the cargo is packed properly, the walls of the containers keep it insulated and the food safe from spoilage. There are also refrigerated units that regulate the temperature inside of the container as well.
Establishing a Cold Chain
It’s important for the manufacturer to work with shipping companies and retailers to establish a cold chain across the country. Transportation is expected to take anywhere from five to seven days, so it’s important to move cargo quickly. Leaving cargo in depots for too long will break the cold chain, even on insulated containers, forever reducing the crop’s value. The shipping company can use multiple drivers to solve this problem, like a relay, where one driver connects with another at a depot in a specified location.
Manage Transport
Shipping is logistically complicated. You need to keep an accurate count of what goes into your Conex containers, and be able to account for losses along the way. You might also wish to monitor the shipment, like tracking a package from Amazon, so you can be sure it arrives at its destination on time. Software can help in this arena, giving periodic updates on your stock as it moves from one location to the next. Perishable goods especially, are vulnerable to breaks in the supply chain. Any delays should be reported and dealt with as soon as possible.
Final Thoughts
Shipping perishable items requires planning for all aspects of the journey. Shipping companies must schedule breaks in shipping, to account for their drivers, or they must make arrangements to move the cargo seamlessly. There is ample opportunity for spoilage along the way, so a good shipping container will help reduce some of that waste and save the manufacturer money in the long run.
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Port Containers sells steel containers for transporting goods nationally or internationally. You can find Conex containers for rent or to buy at Port Containers.