Transport conditions for fruits and vegetables

Loading rules

When delivering agricultural products over long distances, it is necessary to observe the rules of commodity neighborhood — one refrigerator section can only accommodate fruits or vegetables with the same storage conditions and appropriate ethylene compatibility. Fruits that emit a large amount of ethylene are recommended to be transported separately from perishable products that are sensitive to it, since the gas facilitates the maturation processes. For example, green bell pepper, placed next to apples, quickly turns brown and gets shopworn.

Please note: to prevent damage of products by pests and crop diseases, it is necessary to fumigate refrigerators before loading.

Packaging and stowage

Fruits and vegetables that require careful handling (apples, pears, tomatoes, peppers, Chinese cabbage, zucchini, new potatoes, etc.) are transported in cardboard or wooden boxes that provide sufficient rigidity to protect fruits from damage.

To transport root crops (beets, carrots, potatoes) and cabbage, they are stowed in wooden containers, mesh or film bags made of polymer materials, which are placed on pallets.

Berries and greens in containers are placed on special racks, in wooden boxes or other rigid containers, which eliminate the possibility of product damage during transportation.

Temperature and air humidity

For fruits, berries and most types of vegetables, cold chain principle is applied. Dramatic temperature variations when moving products from storage chambers to refrigerated trucks, can lead to the condensation on the skin of products, loss of elasticity and premature spoilage. Therefore, products can be kept in normal outside conditions for a limited period of time.

For transportation of fresh vegetables and fruits, Class A refrigerators are used with a range of temperatures from 0 to +12°C.

The refrigerator must be cooled before loading. If fruits are sorted and calibrated outside the refrigerator before loading, the temperature is set to 2-3 degrees above the warehouse temperature and gradually reduced to standard values. This allows to avoid thermal shock and fast spoilage of goods during transportation.

The temperature inside the refrigerator depends on the type of product. Deviations from the standard values can lead to fruit drying, bad marketable appearance, and a significant shrinkage rate increase.

Temperature modes during transportation of fruits and berries

Temperature modes during transportation of vegetables and mushrooms

Ventilation

To preserve the quality of the transported products, refrigerator trucks are equipped with air circulation devices. Ventilation is necessary to remove ethylene and heat released by fruits and vegetables.

The volume of circulating air in the refrigerator section of the car is adjusted depending on the temperature difference between the air coming out of the cooler and the return air.

To ensure proper ventilation, the distance between the upper tier of the container and the ceiling of the cooler should be at least 30-50 cm, and 3-5 cm between the rows of boxes.

Distance and transportation period

The distance and transportation time directly depend on storability and shelf life of different types of vegetables and fruits. For example, apple varieties that are stored for 8-12 months in CA refrigerators (Empire, Red Chief, Alva, Idared) can be safely transported over long distances, starting from 1000 km. Root crops, cabbage, or onions can also be delivered to remote regions.

Seasonal berries (raspberries, strawberries, black cherries, cherries), greens, perishable vegetables (zucchini, leek, celery) are not suitable for long-term transportation and are sold within one region and neighboring countries.

Transportation of fruits and vegetables requires careful and responsible attitude on the part of the carrier. FRUITLINE SP. Z O.O. cooperates only with reliable logistics companies having their own fleet of refrigerated trucks that undergo regular maintenance of refrigeration units. You can be sure that you will receive your goods perfectly safe.