How To Reduce Produce Spoilage In 3 Steps
New Regulations Affecting Your Imports
The most common question you ask our freight managers is how can I reduce produce spoilage? What are the steps I can take? Where can I make any gains? There are three areas in which produce spoilage can be reduced.
1. Utilize A Cold Supply Chain
Ensuring your produce is in a temperature controlled environment throughout the supply chain will make a big difference in its life cycle. From farm to table, the number of hand-offs from grower, to distributor, to carrier, can each impact spoilage. One hour in a hot van can make spinach seem lifeless and unusable. The supplier should have pre-cooling systems. The freight provider must utilize temperature controlled vans, rail cars, and cargo containers. All of these precautions are critical, and that includes warehouses which offer cold storage as well.
2. Choose Carriers Wisely
A carrier with proper equipment makes all the difference. Either single or team drivers can be used to reflect the correct transit times that the shelf life dictates. The shorter the shelf life, the more important the transit times. A highway carriers genset temperature controlled van is reliant on fuel levels and a temperature setting monitored by the driver. Monitor the carrier's activities from pre-loading, ensuring the equipment is pre-cooled and set at the correct temperatures before arrival at the warehouses for loading are all essential actions to take with perishable produce.
3. Ensure Appointments Are Booked And Met
With as many moving parts as there are in logistics, it is very easy to forget to book an appointment for pickup or delivery. With the current climate of highway carriers mandated Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) limiting the number of hours they can idle while waiting to get loaded, unloaded, drive, work, etc., and congestion at the port, arriving without an appointment or missing the time slot can have massive repercussions. Once the appointment is booked, supply chain managers should regularly check in with their drivers to ensure they are on schedule to meet that appointment time slot, and make the necessary adjustment if they are not. Making sure all appointment times are in place and adhered to by the carriers is a small act, but makes a big difference in spoilage. Although these steps may seem simple, not taking them can trip up even the most organized and prepared supply chain manager. We have heard from countless clients who have run into difficulties in these areas and look to freight managers for long-term solutions. PCB Freight Management has the tools in place to ensure a smooth, cold storage transition from grower to seller.
You Can Reduce Produce Spoilage
If you need help with clearing produce shipments into Canada or the U.S. please contact our sister company, PCB Customs Brokers. If you want to take the steps to reduce produce spoilage click on the button below to get started with PCB Freight Management.
