A move by shipping companies to control the full reefer logistics chain from farm to final destination aims to improve the quality of fruit and reduce wastage, believes logistics consultant Andy Connell.“It is crazy to use reefers only for port-to-port transport.“What you have is a mobile warehouse that is also a refrigeration unit. You want it as close as possible to the point of production where it can be packed and kept under hermetically sealed conditions. This is already finding traction.“They should only come off power when they reach their destination,” he told Freight News.By building chilled cross-dock facilities close to the main growing areas, shipping lines are also taking greater control of the movement of containers, which should help reduce equipment shortages, he adds. “This means that perishable products are locked into the cold chain a good two to ten days earlier than moving through quayside chilled cross-dock facilities.”The lines are able to offer a true door-to-door service, with the customer receiving a single invoice for the packing, transport and shipping.“This gives both the producer and customer peace of mind. As a shipper you just seal the container and get paid 30 days later when it arrives at your customer’s door.”Where consignment composition permits, containers should be loaded on the farm, where cooling can start as soon as possible after picking.This means it will be at the right temperature when it gets to the stack.“You do not want to handle a perishable product more than you have to.“If you tightly pack a container, the produce will come out standing to attention at the other side.“Pallets of product may (and do) get damaged when there are multiple third-party handlers such as in traditional cold stores.“There are also delays, which further affect the condition of the produce.”For markets where pre-cooling is required, the cold stores are equipped with cross-docking to reduce the time between picking and cooling.“The goal should be to have the produce in the port in less than six days after picking.”Another advantage of packing the produce in a container as soon as possible is that it can then be registered on the port Navis system.“It is like checking in early for a f light – you are guaranteed your spot,” he says.“There is a huge advantage to the shipper once the container is registered in Navis as the vessel will not leave without you.“Early registration also earns business cred with the port and shipping lines, which means they will be more willing to accommodate you in future.”
