Shipping produce comes with many challenges. This includes making sure it remains shelf-stable long enough to reach the store and making sure regulations are met correctly. If a shipment goes bad en route to its destination, hundreds of dollars have been lost.
It may seem hard to know where to start when shipping produce, but we’ve got your back. Here are a few tips to help you get through produce transport season.
Produce Transport Season Tips
Choose the Right Transportation Method
When planning how to get your shipment to its destination, you need to compare transportation methods with the longevity of the produce. Shipping by air is generally the fastest, getting produce that has a short shelf life to its destination with plenty of time left. However, it’s almost always the most expensive of the options. Rail takes longer to move the produce, around a few days, but it’s more cost-effective. It’s a better choice for produce that has a longer shelf life.
However, shipping by truck is the best option for shipping produce. Depending on how much you’re shipping, you can choose between Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) and Full Truckload (TL). Specialized services make shipping produce by truck even easier, with options like refrigerated shipping or expedited services. Whether you’re shipping only a few pallets or enough to fill a whole truck, choose the right option for your produce.
Follow Requirements and Regulations
Shipping any type of good requires careful documentation, but with produce it’s one of the most important things. Shippers and carriers need to be compliant with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and regulations set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The FSMA requires that trucks carrying produce must be clean, kept at a safe temperature, and that the carrier has the proper training and documentation of compliance.
If regulations aren’t met, it can have costly consequences. Not only will the produce have to be replaced, but the shipper and carrier could be subject to fines. Every year, foodborne illnesses affect thousands of Americans, making it important to take every precaution to keep produce fresh and safe.
Shipment Visibility
As there’s much that goes into shipping produce, it’s important to know what’s going on while it’s in transit. Being able to track the shipment can help minimize the risk of food becoming spoiled and inedible. It benefits the shipper to know where their produce is and helps the consumer know when to expect it to arrive.
Miscommunication can happen at any point during the process, so it’s important to make sure everyone across the supply chain is aware of important information. Make sure there’s a clear line of communication about how the produce needs to be stored before, during, and after transport to keep its freshness. When everything is communicated properly, there’s no worry about a miscalculation in capacity planning or wondering where the shipment is.
Package Produce Correctly
Packaging your produce properly is one of the best ways you can protect it from damage and contamination. Generally, produce is packaged in bins or on wooden pallets. It’s best to secure the containers with plastic wrap to the bins and pallets, reducing the chance of shifting and bruising. Make sure the produce is packed in breathable containers to ensure they don’t spoil while in transit.
Depending on the variety of produce you’re shipping, it’s best to be mindful of cross-contamination that may occur. Separating different kinds of produce lowers the risk of it occurring. If cross-contamination does occur, the produce may need to be discarded, causing significant financial loss.
Choose the Right Partner
Don’t stress about shipping your produce properly. With over 25+ years of experience, FreightCenter is here to navigate it all with you. We’ve helped move produce for several food logistics companies, and we’re ready to help you. We work with reputable carriers who have experience transporting produce safely and efficiently. We make sure you get the best carrier and rate, helping you get your produce to where it needs to be.
Ready to ship your produce? Get an instant online quote today or call one of our expert agents at (800) 716-7608.
