Is Produce Season Ever Over In Logistics?
The changing of seasons not only brings different weather conditions and activities to do but also different needs in the transportation and logistics industry.
Depending on the season, certain goods take precedence over others; in the summer, the want for popsicles and beach gear rises, while holiday-related goods and snow removal products are popular in the winter.
Produce season is the period in which fresh fruits and vegetables are harvested and shipped in high volumes. Most cargo that is shipped has a peak season – but for produce, which consists of different types of fruits and vegetables that grow at various times, is its season ever over?
Produce Season
We have the luxury of going to the grocery store or a Sunday market and picking any produce we need at any given point throughout the year.
While produce season does have a peak – June to August, with May having the highest seasonality, the season lasts seven months out of the year. When produce winds down in one region, another region picks up. Certain produce grows better at certain times. For example, this is why watermelon tastes better in May than in August or September – because it’s harvested in the spring.
In the U.S., produce season begins in the southeast and southwest during the spring. In the summer, California, Georgia, and the Carolinas see an uptick in produce production, with the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest regions amping up in the fall.
In the wintertime, produce is imported from Mexico and parts of South America. The off-season allows for ports in Florida and Texas to stay busy year-round.
How is Produce Transported?
So how is all the fresh produce transported from farms to shelves? Most fruits and vegetables require refrigeration to maintain freshness and avoid spoilage. Suppliers must adhere to regulations put in place by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) – both provide rules for the safe transportation of the products, which includes ensuring proper temperature control.
Produce can be shipped through any mode of transportation – road, air, ship, or rail. Each mode has its own advantages.
Reefer vans or refrigerated trucks are the most common method used for transporting produce. Although, when it comes to shipping produce farther distances, air freight is an optimal choice, especially for highly perishable items such as berries.
While rail transportation is often used in large-scale domestic shipments across the country, sea freight is utilized for international shipments that can withstand the extended journey.
However, no matter the mode of transportation that is used, cold chain logistics plays a vital role in its journey from harvest to the store shelf. Produce is placed not only in refrigerated trailers but also in temperature-controlled packaging like insulated boxes with gel packs and dry ice.
These shipments are also closely monitored the entire journey – produce needs to meet food safety standards and reach store shelves successfully to keep the supply chain moving and satisfy consumer expectations.
How Produce Season Affects the Transportation Industry
The seasonality of produce has a significant impact on the transportation industry, influencing everything from shipping volumes to route planning.
In the summer months, truckload capacity tightens as reefer trucks are in high demand. In certain regions, available trucks are pulled more toward produce loads, making it more difficult for other items that rely on reefer vans as well, like frozen foods and pharmaceuticals, to secure capacity – especially for non-produce industries near produce hotspots.
Tighter truck capacity can lead to higher freight rates and volatility, especially on routes from southern regions where the season begins. Often, produce shippers are willing to pay a premium for time-sensitive, perishable goods.
During produce season, especially in times of higher demand, supply chain planning becomes more complex. Poor planning can lead to significant issues like spoilage and stockouts at retailers.
Due to their time-sensitive nature, everything needs to run smoothly and on time. Not only do regional harvest calendars need to be monitored, but weather patterns need to be monitored, too, to anticipate any potential disruptions.
So, is produce season ever over in logistics?
While most products fluctuate in demand throughout the year, produce remains a constant necessity for consumers. No matter the time of year, grocery stores remain stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables.
The demand for produce places continuous pressure on the transportation industry to adapt to seasonal shifts, volume surges, and the need for temperature-controlled logistics.
No matter the challenges, a steady supply of fresh fruits and vegetables is always delivered on time because, just like the transportation and logistics industry, the produce season keeps on moving!
