Blog
Perishable logistics is a critical aspect of modern supply chains, ensuring the safe and timely transportation of goods that have a limited shelf life and can spoil or deteriorate quickly if not handled correctly. With globalisation and technological advancements, it has become increasingly feasible to transport perishable goods from one part of the world to another, ensuring they reach consumers in peak condition.
The perishable goods transportation market is estimated to grow to USD 7.43 billion at a CAGR of 7.75% between 2022 and 2027. This projected growth highlights the increasing importance and rising demand of the Perishable Logistics Industry.
To illustrate the intricacies behind this giant time critical industry, let’s follow the journey of an avocado from a farm in Mexico to a supermarket in Europe. This will shed light on the extensive process involved in transporting a perishable product across time zones while ensuring its freshness and quality for the end consumer.
Step 1: Harvesting and Initial Processing
The first step comprises three distinct stages: harvesting, sorting and grading, and washing and packing, each crucial in the avocado’s journey.
Harvesting: Avocados are meticulously handpicked from the orchards of Michoacán, Mexico, known for its avocado production. Timing is critical to ensure peak ripeness and quality.
Sorting and Grading: The harvested avocados are transported to a nearby processing facility for initial sorting and grading. Workers meticulously inspect the fruit for size, ripeness, and quality, segregating them into different grades.
Washing and Packing: Following sorting, the avocados undergo a thorough washing to eliminate dirt and potential contaminants. They are then carefully packed into crates designed to safeguard them during transportation. Each crate is meticulously labelled with essential information such as the harvest date, origin, and grade, ensuring traceability and quality assurance throughout the supply chain.
Step 2: Cold Storage and Transportation
In Step 2, the focus shifts to cold storage and transportation, critical stages in preserving the freshness of avocados during transit.
Pre-Cooling: The process begins with pre-cooling the freshly packed avocados to approximately 4-5°C (39-41°F). This vital step removes field heat and slows down the ripening process, effectively extending the fruit’s shelf life.
Refrigerated Truck Transport: Once properly stored, the avocados are loaded onto refrigerated trucks, also known as reefers. These trucks feature sophisticated temperature control systems and IoT devices that continuously monitor and regulate the internal environment. They transport the avocados from the processing facility to the Port of Lázaro Cárdenas, ensuring optimal conditions throughout the journey.
Temperature Monitoring: Throughout transit, the temperature and humidity levels inside the reefers are meticulously monitored. Real-time alerts are transmitted to logistics managers in the event of any deviations, enabling swift corrective actions to maintain the integrity of the avocados.
Step 3: Sea Freight
The next step delves into the Sea Freight aspect of the avocado’s journey, outlining the meticulous steps taken to maintain its freshness during the transatlantic voyage.
Port of Lázaro Cárdenas: Upon arrival at the port, the crates of avocados are carefully transferred into refrigerated shipping containers, commonly referred to as reefer containers. These containers are specifically designed to uphold precise temperature and humidity levels essential for preserving the quality of the produce.
Shipping Preparation: Once loaded into the reefer containers, they are meticulously arranged and secured within the container ship. Each container is then connected to the ship’s power supply, ensuring that the refrigeration units remain operational throughout the duration of the voyage.
Sea Voyage: With preparations complete, the container ship embarks on its transatlantic journey, navigating across the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean en route to the Port of Rotterdam. This leg of the journey typically spans approximately two weeks, during which the avocados are subject to the rigours of maritime transport.
Real-Time Monitoring: Advanced tracking systems installed within the reefer containers provide real-time insights into the location and condition of the avocados throughout the sea voyage. Logistics managers leverage this data to closely monitor and manage the environmental conditions inside the containers, ensuring that they remain conducive to preserving the freshness and quality of the avocados.
Step 4: Port of Entry and Distribution
This step focuses on the critical processes involved in the avocados’ arrival at the Port of Rotterdam and their subsequent distribution to regional centres across Europe.
Port of Rotterdam: As the avocados reach the Port of Rotterdam, they undergo meticulous customs clearance procedures. Officials scrutinise the accompanying documentation and conduct random inspections to ensure compliance with stringent import regulations and food safety standards.
Phytosanitary Inspection: Specialised inspectors meticulously examine the avocados for any signs of pests, diseases, or contamination. This thorough inspection is essential to verify that the produce adheres to the rigorous phytosanitary standards mandated for entry into the European Union.
Cold Storage: Upon successfully passing the inspections, the containers are promptly transferred to state-of-the-art cold storage facilities within the port. Here, they are carefully maintained at optimal temperature and humidity levels, preserving their freshness and quality until they are ready for onward distribution.
Distribution to Regional Centers: The next phase involves loading the avocados onto refrigerated trucks, equipped with advanced GPS and temperature monitoring systems, for transportation to various regional distribution centres (RDCs) scattered across Europe. Throughout transit, stringent measures are implemented to uphold the optimal conditions required to safeguard the avocados’ quality and integrity.
Step 5: Retail and Consumer Purchase
Step 5 delves into the final stages of the journey, focusing on the crucial processes involved in making avocados available to consumers at supermarkets and retail outlets across Europe.
Regional Distribution Centers (RDCs): Upon arrival at the RDCs, the avocados undergo meticulous sorting and repackaging procedures tailored to the specific requirements of supermarkets and retailers. Additional quality checks are conducted to ensure that the avocados meet the stringent standards set by retailers before they are dispatched for delivery.
Supermarket Distribution: The avocados are then transported to supermarkets via refrigerated vehicles, ensuring that they remain fresh and pristine during transit. This last mile delivery is essential in preserving the quality and integrity of the produce until it reaches the shelves.
Stocking Shelves: Upon arrival at the supermarkets, the avocados are promptly unpacked and meticulously arranged in the produce section by store employees. Attention is paid to displaying the avocados attractively while maintaining the optimal temperature to uphold their freshness.
Consumer Purchase: Consumers visiting the supermarket can choose from a selection of avocados that have undergone a rigorous journey from farm to shelf. The freshness and quality of the avocados serve as a testament to the efficiency and effectiveness of the perishable logistics chain.
Conclusion
The avocado’s voyage from a Mexican farm to a European consumer highlights the intricate and efficient nature of modern perishable logistics. Each stage, from precise harvesting to smooth transportation and distribution, is meticulously orchestrated to guarantee fresh, top-quality produce on store shelves. The avocado’s journey exemplifies the remarkable accomplishments of the perishable logistics industry, delivering excellence and dependability to consumers worldwide.
