Globalization of the fresh produce trade often requires commodities to travel great distances and arrive in a marketable condition. Temperature management is the most important factor in managing product quality during shipment. Other factors include: environmental humidity and water loss; atmospheric gas concentrations (carbon dioxide, oxygen and ethylene), packaging types, stowage patterns, transport conditions such as road conditions that could lead to physical injury and produce stress.

CASE STUDY – Shipping Indian mangoes to Europe
Working with an international shipping company we developed a robust protocol for the preparation and long distance shipment of mangoes using controlled atmosphere technology.

CASE STUDY – Green beans air freighted from Kenya
We recommended a packaging solution for the air shipment of green beans from Kenya to the UK. Previously, a good proportion of the air consignments were arriving in poor condition due to a breakdown in the cool chain at Nairobi airport. Using MAP specifically designed for shipping this high respiring product the client was able to maintain shelf life despite the product being exposed to fluctuations in temperature.

CASE STUDY – Shipping produce from South America
We provided recommendations to a number of South American suppliers regarding the shipment of produce – asparagus, grapes, melons and stone fruit – to the UK. Common problems include the use of unsuitable packaging and poor stowage techniques, which led to poor temperature management, and results in physiological damage and deterioration in produce quality.

Our services include:

• Recommendations and protocols for the transportation of fresh produce by road, sea or air
• Evaluating technologies to optimise transportation of perishable products, for example: ethylene scrubbers; ozone treatment; modified and control atmospheres; sulphur dioxide generators; innovative packaging; new stowage techniques
• Monitoring environmental conditions during shipment, including vibration and impact damage
• Outturn assessments on arrival at the destination port