Produce Shipping Top 4 Best Practices for Shippers to Know

adam • December 30, 2021

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Produce Shipping Top 4 Best Practices for Shippers to Know

In such a face-paced industry, shipping produce requires more effort than most would think due to deliveries having such a short timeframe. Shipping produce requires immense coordination due to the shelf life, temperature, and transportation requirements for freshness. Looking into the enormous effect recall cost has in the food industry, Food Safety Magazine states, “The average cost of a recall to a food company is $10M in direct costs, in addition to brand damage and lost sales according to a joint industry study by the Food Marketing Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers Association.” Understanding the produce shipping best practices for shippers can promote proper produce transportation and ensure freshness for shipment pickup or delivery.

Track Produce Shelf Life

To properly ship produce and provide the customer with the best freshness and longest shelf life possible, shippers need to learn the average shelf life for each product. Knowing the produce shipping best practices for shippers can make it easier for them to work against the clock. The pressure is high on shippers to secure transportation and the dedicated trucking solutions needed to get the produce on the shelf before spoiling.

The following high-density produce have a shelf life of seven days or more:

Onions
Potatoes
Carrots
Apples
Cabbage
Garlic
Celery

Produce with a medium density that will no longer have freshness after four days include:

Oranges
Broccoli
Avocados
Peppers
Peaches
Spinach
Tomatoes
Watermelon

Light density produce has a shelf life expectancy of only a day or two, which includes:

Melons
Cucumbers
Strawberries
Bananas
Corn
Green Beans
Grapes
Lettuce
Zucchini

Knowing the shelf life expectancy for various produce can help shippers understand the delivery window time available.

Transport Produce Safely

Since produce is a more sensitive type of freight to haul due to the differences in temperature and shelf expectancy, produce shipping best practices for shippers is critical. If shippers do not follow the expected guidelines, the chance of the produce remaining safe for buying at the market grows slim. To properly transport produce products, the Food Modernization Safety Act (FMSA) states that vehicles must be clean, kept at a safe temperature, shipped through a carrier with proper training and documentation of compliance. The requirements ensure that produce will remain safe for purchasing and prevent the risk of contamination.

Track the Produce Temperature

As part of produce shipping best practices for shippers, they must understand the temperature needed for each produce item. A regulated temperature is vital for keeping consistent quality while delivering produce. Depending on the type of produce, temperatures can range from 32 degrees Fahrenheit to a high 60. Shippers will have the proper temperature from the bill of lading to ensure refrigerated trucks stay gauged at the appropriate temperature. Even simply transporting produce at the wrong temperature can hinder the freshness and shelf expectancy of the produce items.

Steps to Prevent Recalls

Along with the other produce shipping best practices for shippers, they must also process product recalls’ severity and impact in the produce market. Taking the proper steps to avoid recalls can save companies from future lawsuits and meet the global food safety standards. Such characteristics that prevent produce-related recalls from occurring include:

Ensure the proper divisions in produce to maintain the integrity of each batch.
Clean thoroughly and frequently to maintain sanitation and prevent contamination.
Maintain effective HACCP programs, and learn from the “close calls” and actual recall occurrences.
Have all the proper documentation on each batch or individual produce item.
Use a well-established form of communication and make sure everyone in the supply chain understands the rules and standards.

Using the produce shipping best practices for shippers and understanding the characteristics from the list above can prevent a recall from happening. Taking the proper steps and care to follow the fundamental principles for maintaining fresh produce, providing safe transportation, and avoiding produce-related recalls can benefit everyone throughout the supply chain.

Ensure These Produce Shipping Best Practices Are in Action by Partnering With Entourage

As tedious and stressful as it can be to transport produce, knowing produce shipping best practices for shippers can benefit companies in the long run. To maintain safe and efficient transportation, shippers must learn about the produce itself and the process. Transporting time-sensitive cargo can be stressful; however, the right partner can make it easier than ever. To put shippers’ knowledge to the test and get started with produce transportation contacting Entourage Freight Solutions today.

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Tariffs, Trade Policy, and the Great Freight Fallout

By Nick Terry • April 28, 2025

In 2025, trade policy is no longer something that the freight industry can leave on the back burner. Trade policy today is shaping strategy at every level. From tariff escalations and retaliatory duties to sweeping regulatory changes and targeted maritime fees, supply chain leaders are navigating a freight market in which unpredictability is the only constant. Sourcing decisions are shifting, pricing dynamics are unstable, and long-standing operational models are being rewritten in real time. This edition brings together key stories highlighting the growing pressure across logistics channels. Each development points to an industry moving fast, and often reactively, to keep pace with volatile policy decisions. Tariffs Stall US Freight Recovery as Shippers Pause Orders The recent move by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to impose entrance fees on Chinese-built ships calling U.S. ports has only added to the confusion and uncertainty gripping global supply chains and freight operations. Shippers are pausing plans and slashing orders, with truckload volumes, containerized imports, and manufacturing output all showing signs of contraction. Ocean freight spot rates have collapsed: Asia-U.S. West Coast rates have fallen 61% since January to $2,050 per FEU, while East Coast rates have dropped 53.7% to $3,100 per FEU . Blank sailings are rising, with vessels leaving Asia half-empty. Amazon and Five Below are among the major retailers reducing orders from Asia. Container imports jumped 15.3% in 2024, but forecasts now predict a 20-27% decline through the summer. Exporters, particularly agriculture and forestry suppliers, are also squeezed, facing 125% retaliatory tariffs from China. Truckload and intermodal rates remain stagnant, while U.S. factory output fell sharply in March. US Apparel Importers Brace for Long-Term Volume Declines According to Trade Partnership Worldwide, a 124.1% tariff on Chinese clothing and footwear is expected to reduce U.S. apparel imports by 1.6% annually . China still accounts for 41.7% of apparel shipments, leaving limited flexibility for diversion. The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) is warning of price hikes and mounting infrastructure stress as sourcing pivots toward Vietnam, India, and Indonesia. A looming May 2 deadline for de minimis exemptions could further complicate flows and delay deliveries. Even with a temporary 90-day pause in reciprocal tariffs, the policy uncertainty already affects long-term planning. AAFA CEO Steve Lamar calls the shifting policies “chaotic,” and warned that high tariff pressure will hit both importers and U.S. manufacturers reliant on Chinese components. Port and rail capacity limitations at larger gateways are adding to concerns. Retailers now face rising costs, shrinking margins, and operational delays — all while consumer demand continues to shift rapidly. Freight Pricing Gains Lose Momentum According to the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, Q1 truckload rates rose 5.9% above the 2018 baseline, but are expected to decline slightly in Q2. Shippers are responding to tariff threats with aggressive front-loading and shorter-haul routes, driving per-shipment costs to three-year lows. LTL carriers remain focused on profitable lanes and high-quality freight rather than chasing volume. The index forecasts a 0.7% year-over-year increase in LTL rate per pound for Q2 , despite sustained demand softness and macro uncertainty. A key driver behind the softening spot market conditions is a shift to shorter hauls and regionalized distribution, pushing per-shipment costs to their lowest point in more than three years. This trend reflects how retailers and manufacturers are repositioning inventory in response to tariff volatility, as NRF’s Jonathan Gold and DAT analyst Dean Croke noted. Meanwhile, the LTL sector is seeing a 4% rise in fuel surcharges, offsetting lower weights and shorter hauls. With the freight market still under pressure after 26 months of contraction, optimism remains subdued as we enter the midyear period. US Truckload Freight Spot Rates Continue to Fluctuate National benchmark rates have experienced a decline across all categories. As of April 18, dry van decreased by 4 cents to $1.62, reefer by 2 cents to $1.88 , and flatbed by 3 cents to $2.16. This marked the first overall decrease since late January, signaling potential shifts in market dynamics. These changes can be attributed to factors such as tariff uncertainties and tighter capacity, especially affecting the flatbed market. Flatbed rates rely heavily on manufacturing activity in the country, which has been particularly hard-hit by the ongoing trade war with China, and to some extent, with the rest of the world. US Finalizes Tiered Fee Plan Targeting Chinese Ships The U.S. is moving forward with a revised plan to levy voyage-based fees on Chinese-owned and Chinese-built ships calling at American ports. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the measure as part of a broader Trump administration effort to counter China’s dominance in shipbuilding and logistics while reigniting domestic ship construction and port infrastructure investment. Starting in six months, Chinese operators will be charged $50 per net ton, with an annual increase of $30 for three years . Non-Chinese carriers using Chinese-built vessels will face lower rates, beginning at $18 per ton or $120 per container, with annual increases. The USTR capped fee applications at five voyages per vessel annually, scaling back its original, more punitive per-port-call proposal after intense industry pushback. The fees are tied to findings from a USTR investigation, which concluded that China’s shipbuilding dominance — producing 29% of global fleet capacity and 70% of all container ships on order — stemmed from unfair trade practices. Exemptions apply to ships arriving empty, those in the Great Lakes or U.S. territories, and some bulk exports. LNG vessel transport restrictions will phase in over 22 years to support U.S. production. China’s largest container carrier, Cosco Shipping Lines, has sharply criticized the USTR’s plan. In a strongly worded statement, Cosco labeled the move as “discriminatory,” and warned it would disrupt global industrial and supply chain stability. Cosco denied allegations from that USTR investigation that claimed China manipulated its shipping and shipbuilding sectors to gain an unfair advantage. The carrier said it upholds “integrity, transparency, and compliance” in global competition and remains committed to ensuring the resilience of international trade. Walmart Investing $6B in Mexico, Central America Store Expansion Walmart of Mexico and Central America will invest $6 billion to open new stores across the region , reinforcing its long-term commitment to growth in Latin America. The expansion will include Bodega Aurrera, Walmart Supercenters, Sam’s Club, and Walmart Express formats, building on a robust network of 3,200 stores across all 32 Mexican states. This latest move echoes Walmart’s earlier $1.3 billion investment in 2016 for regional distribution and operational upgrades. The retailer entered the Mexican market in 1991 with a Sam’s Club in Mexico City. In a statement, Walmart said the new expansion reflects confidence in the region’s economic potential and consumer demand. Globally, Walmart continues to invest aggressively in infrastructure and store development. The company has pledged about $4.5 billion for its Canadian operations and $1.3 billion in Chile to build 70 new stores and a distribution center. In the U.S., Walmart is executing a five-year plan to build or convert more than 150 stores while modernizing 650 existing locations under its “Store of the Future” initiative. Experience Seamless Shipping with Entourage Freight Solutions Entourage Freight Solutions believes in total transparency in the shipping process. That is why we invest in tech solutions that track every shipment extensively, monitor every driver, and extract every bit of efficiency without sacrificing quality. Our state-of-the-art platform utilizes cloud-based GPS tracking to keep you informed, reroutes shipments on the fly to avoid delays, and even responds to real-time market changes to ensure you receive your shipment on time and as soon as possible. Our Services Full Truck Load (FTL): When you need a truck all to yourself. Less-Than-Truckload (LTL): Efficient solutions for multi-stop shipments or combining smaller loads to save on costs. Refrigerated Trucking: Keeping your temperature-sensitive products fresh and safe. Cross-Docking: Strategically located facilities in Shelby, Ohio, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Romulus, Michigan, for streamlined consolidation, storage, and distribution. Ready to experience a new level of service and control in your freight shipping? Request a quote today to see how Entourage Freight Solutions can help with your freight movement and other supply chain needs.