Easter Shipping: How Easter Eggs, Lilies, and Candy are Shipped
The start of spring is a joyous time for those who suffered through the long, harsh winter. The weather is warming up, flowers are blooming, and the biggest holiday of the season arrives: Easter Sunday.
While the holiday is mainly known for its religious significance, it has also become a celebration for everyone, thanks to the Easter Bunny and his basket of colorful eggs and candy. Today, many children and families eagerly anticipate Easter egg hunts, receiving baskets filled with treats, and spending quality time together.
However, just like other major holidays, Easter is a busy time for manufacturers, retailers, and transportation companies. Eggs, lilies, and candy are among the most popular commodities sold for Easter, and each type presents its own challenges when it comes to shipping them from manufacturers to store shelves or homes.
The most complicated issue is keeping these products at a regulated temperature; almost all of these products require cold chain logistics to keep them from spoiling or melting. Manufacturers, transportation companies, and retailers must collaborate to ensure the timely and pristine delivery of Easter products to stores and customers.
Let’s take a closer look at how Easter eggs, lilies, and candy are shipped effectively in time for the holiday. By exploring the processes involved with each type, we can gain valuable insights into the logistics that ensure everything arrives on schedule.
Easter Eggs
When we talk about Easter eggs, there are two main types people think of: plastic and real, hard-boiled ones. Plastic eggs are a modern staple of egg hunts; these colorful creations substitute for real eggs while holding small candies and gifts inside. These do not need extensive preparation for shipping to retailers.
While plastic eggs are sensitive to pressure or damage from heavier objects, they aren’t as sensitive as real eggs are during shipping. Therefore, as long as they have extra cushioning and are carefully placed in the trailer, plastic eggs do not require any special accommodations during shipping.
However, the same cannot be said of real eggs, traditionally hard-boiled and decorated with colored dyes. Eggs are sensitive to heat, requiring the use of temperature-controlled vehicles and refrigerated trucks (reefers) for transportation. Eggs are stored in a carton or box at 40°F (4°C) or below; any prolonged exposure to heat will result in the eggs becoming spoiled and rotten.
Eggs are usually transported either in large boxes with individual cartons inside or as individual stacks. Either way, they are placed on a rack or pallet and shrink-wrapped to prevent movement during transport. They are also stacked carefully on top of each other, ensuring that no pressure is applied to the top or sides of the cartons.
Easter Lilies
As Easter falls around the beginning of spring, flowers are a standard gift for adults during the holiday. Out of the many kinds of flowers purchased for Easter, one of the most popular is the Easter lily. These completely white flowers require the coordination of many farms, greenhouses, and florists to ship them successfully without spoiling.
Originally from Taiwan and Japan, Easter lilies are grown in the Northwest region of the United States around this time of year, particularly in Northern California and Oregon. As winter comes to an end, the bulbs are dug up from the ground, washed, and graded for quality. They are then placed into crates filled with peat moss to maintain moisture and protect them during transport.
Easter lilies and their bulbs are perishable, so they must be transported in reefers between 35 °F (2 °C) and 45 °F (7 °C). After traveling to a farm or greenhouse, bulbs must remain in a cooler set at the same temperature for over 1,000 hours; the longer the bulbs cool, the higher the number of lilies produced.
Once cooled, they can then be planted. To have them ready for Easter, they must be grown 120 days beforehand. After completing their growth, they are then harvested, cut, and transported once again on refrigerated trucks to retailers and florists to sell during the holiday season.
Easter Candy
Seasonal candies, such as marshmallow birds, chocolate bunnies, and chocolate eggs, are all the rage during Easter. Children especially love receiving their candies in baskets with other toys and games on Easter morning. However, like all confections, they are highly perishable and will melt or spoil due to exposure to heat and moisture.
Chocolate has a specific melting point that varies depending on its type. White chocolate has a lower melting point, whereas milk and dark chocolate have higher melting points. As a result, chocolate products are typically stored at cool temperatures, between 57°F (14°C) and 64°F (18°C). Note that most chocolate is imported from other countries, including Canada, Belgium, Mexico, and Germany, which means importers must also ensure the safety of their chocolate during the lengthy transportation times.
Meanwhile, marshmallows, which contain gelatin, have a melting point of about 95°F (35 °C), just below the average human body temperature (which is why they’re known for melting in your mouth). While this does make them easier to transport, they are still vulnerable to warm temperatures and moisture, which can cause them to spoil prematurely.
Candies that are sensitive to heat and moisture are transported in temperature-controlled containers and refrigerated trucks from manufacturers. Less sensitive candies can be shipped via standard freight but are carefully packaged to ensure they remain insulated and cool. Regardless of the type of candy being shipped for Easter, it must be refrigerated or kept insulated until it reaches store shelves.
Easter is a vibrant holiday that brings joy to people of all ages, but it requires careful planning and logistics. Companies coordinate the cold chain delivery of delicate items like eggs, lilies, and chocolates months in advance. By working closely with manufacturers and retailers, they proactively address Easter shipping challenges to maintain product integrity throughout the process.
Moreover, logistics experts utilize market trends and predictive analytics based on historical data to accurately anticipate demand. This foresight is crucial, as it prevents retailers from scrambling at the last minute to secure both domestic and international products, thus avoiding shortages and delays.
Ultimately, through this coordinated effort, transportation providers play an essential role in delivering Easter’s cherished symbols to homes, ensuring that families can fully enjoy the traditions and treats that make the holiday so special.
