All You Need to Know About Transporting Fruit Cargo

Fruit cargo is a highly profitable one. It has a short shelf life and can be stowed in containers of different types, making it an ideal option for shippers looking for quick returns. However, certain aspects of fruit shipping need to be considered before you start stuffing your fruits and sending them across the world!

Understanding The Market

It is important to note that fruit is a highly perishable cargo. This means that it can lose its quality and become unusable if it isn’t transported properly. 

Fruit is also a high-value, high-risk cargo, meaning that when you’re transporting it, you need to take extra precautions. You need to make sure your vehicle is secure and well-maintained. This will ensure that the fruits are transported safely and arrive at their destination in good condition.

Sourcing The Cargo

Sourcing the fruit cargo you need to ship can be confusing. Fruit is a perishable cargo, so you must choose a service provider that specializes in temperature-controlled transport. 

Fruit is also high value, so it takes some time and effort to find the right company for your shipment.

And with all of these factors considered, there are still more things that you need to keep in mind when choosing fruit transportation services:

  • Seasonality – Some fruits are only available at certain times of the year. Others may have limited availability outside certain regions (such as bananas). These seasonal variations make sourcing your shipment difficult if you’re not careful!
  • Size – Fruit is small and fragile, which means it requires special equipment for safe transport. Your company must know exactly what packing material will work best for each type of fruit shipped out!

Preparation for Stuffing

To avoid bruising and prevent the fruit from touching the container walls, fruit production companies use a method called “stuffing” when shipping their produce. With this method, you will need to create what is called a “slope.” This slope should be on the side of the container, away from where you would like your fruit to lie. 

The slope can be created using either packing materials or cardboard boxes filled with polystyrene chips or shredded paper so that there is enough room for each piece of fruit to sit upright at an angle. 

You can also add mesh fabric over the top if you want some protection against damage from dirt or other particles in transit.

Packaging

You will want to ensure that your packaging is strong enough to hold the cargo in place during transportation. You also want it to be durable enough so that it won’t break open during transport, which could cause the cargo inside to spill out. 

If you are shipping a liquid commodity, such as wine or olive oil, make sure that your packaging is waterproof. Finally, make sure that your packaging is temperature-controlled and can withstand rough handling by carriers during transit.

The type of fruit you are transporting will determine what kind of packaging you need:

Choosing The Right Vessel

Choose the vessel that meets your needs and is the most cost-effective. It can be an RO/RO, reefer, or container ship, depending on what type of cargo you’re transporting.

Choosing a suitable vessel for your fruit cargo also depends on its destination and how perishable it is. For example, if you’re transporting fresh fruits like mangoes or bananas to Australia in the summertime, it’s better to use refrigerated vessels so they don’t spoil before reaching their destination. 

If your shipments are going overseas during wintertime when temperatures drop below zero degrees Celsius (i.e., 32 degrees Fahrenheit), then air freight would be more appropriate. That way there’s no need to worry about cold storage facilities at all. Pack everything up tightly and fly them out!

Labeling

Properly labeling your fruit cargo is an essential part of the shipping process. If you are shipping to or from a state with agricultural regulations, your shipment must be labeled to identify it as “agricultural,” which means it contains produce.

The types of labels required will vary depending on what type of fruit you are shipping. For example, citrus fruits must have stickers indicating if they are treated or not treated with waxes, oils, or other chemicals for protection during storage and transport. It’s important to know what kind of label you need before shipping your fruit so that you can provide the proper documentation when necessary.

Fruit shipping is the most lucrative specialty cargo market.

Fruit cargo is a high-value, perishable commodity that requires careful handling and specialized packaging materials to ensure safe transport. This makes it a niche market within the transportation industry.

Conclusion

Fruit is one of the most lucrative specialty cargo markets. It’s no wonder, then, that so many players in the industry want to take advantage of this opportunity.