Shipping fresh produce adds additional logistics concerns that can affect your success. Partnering with a reliable freight broker can help ensure that your shipment arrives safely and in good condition. From ensuring optimal transportation conditions for perishable goods to providing a vast network of specialized carriers, the right broker can streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and open doors to new opportunities. Discover how a trusted freight broker's expertise, industry knowledge, and commitment to exceptional service can transform the logistics landscape for grower-shippers.

Scaling Fresh Produce Logistics is Easier Said than Done

Shipping fresh produce comes with its own set of unique challenges. Produce is perishable and begins to degrade almost as soon as it is picked, so the race is on to deliver that produce to the store and into customer’s hands before it goes bad. The art of shipping fresh produce hinges on several cornerstones: controlling temperatures, accessing real-time data, and observing regulations. 

Maintaining Temperatures

Maintaining the proper temperature is essential to upholding the quality of produce. The best temperature for traveling produce varies according to the produce type but ranges from around 32 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically, produce will need to be transported in refrigerated “reefer” trucks to maintain the ideal temperature. As expected, reefer containers are less available than regular containers and are even more difficult to obtain in times of container shortages.

Each produce item has its own observed shelf life and must be delivered within that time frame. Expedited shipping can help shippers meet these deadlines by prioritizing and efficiently delivering shipments. While expedited shipping includes additional costs, ensuring produce arrives on time and in prime condition can be worth it. 

Real-time Data

Real-time data insights enable grower-shippers to accurately plan capacity, forecast demand, and plan optimal routes. Working with a 3rd party logistics provider (3PL) will enable you to keep comprehensive, updated data on your shipment and ensure that your produce travels quickly and efficiently to its final destination. 

Another reason to use real-time data in your supply chain is an FDA ruling that requires companies that process, pack, or transport food to keep Key Data Elements (KDEs) on Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) and to provide that information to the FDA within 24 hours. 

Observing Regulations 

Speaking of regulations, the existing rules for safe food handling also impact grower-shippers and play a key role in logistics. 

Since produce is perishable, it is regulated by proper food handling rules from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Some of the rules laid out by the Food Modernization Safety Act (FSMA) are:

• Vehicles must be cleaned before fresh produce is loaded to prevent contamination.
• Produce must be kept at a safe temperature throughout the entire trip.
• Carriers must be adequately trained in handling and transporting perishable items. 
• Carriers must have documentation of their compliance with all these laws.

Ensuring that your shipments observe all these rules and uphold food safety standards is essential.

To Grow in Challenging Environments, Grower Shippers Need Reliable Transportation

As we’ve seen, shipping produce can be complicated, and having the right partner can improve efficiency and efficacy. Partnering with a reliable freight broker can help you optimize logistics, quickly solve problems, and access new opportunities. 

A Vast Carrier Network Ensures Reliable Capacity

Since produce is so perishable, you must have the trucks and equipment you need precisely when you need it. The extensive, flexible carrier network provided by your freight broker helps you get the trucks and people power you need when you need it. Their robust AI-powered systems can even help you predict your equipment needs and plan ahead. 

Capacity is Good; Expert Capacity is Great

It’s not just about having access to the capacity you need when you need it; it’s also about working with a partner that understands the intricacies of food safety regulation and can help ensure temperature control for fresh produce. You want to ensure that your freight broker partner can prioritize your needs and expertly implement your shipping when push comes to shove. 

With Transportation Secured, Grower Shippers Can Focus on Performance

It can be difficult for smaller companies to access real-time data, analyze optimal routes, and ensure prompt delivery all at once. That’s where a great freight broker can complement your needs. Instead of recreating the wheel from scratch, use a freight broker partnership to fill in your tech needs. Shippers can ensure maximum visibility and communication over high-stakes, perishable produce shipments by partnering with a tech-enabled freight brokerage. 

Improve Your Fresh Produce Logistics with a Freight Broker Partner

Scaling fresh produce logistics can be challenging, but with the right freight broker, you can optimize your shipments and improve your overall supply chain. When shipping fresh produce, prioritize temperature control and food safety regulations by working with a freight broker who’s familiar with transporting perishable produce. You can utilize your freight broker partner’s technologies to attain real-time data, optimize routes, and ensure the timely delivery of perishable products. Contact Entourage Freight Solutions today for the best freight broker in the produce-shipping business.