{"id":4641,"date":"2019-05-03T11:47:31","date_gmt":"2019-05-03T17:47:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.englandlogistics.com\/?p=4641"},"modified":"2019-05-03T17:24:47","modified_gmt":"2019-05-03T23:24:47","slug":"produce-season-from-farm-to-fork","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.englandlogistics.com\/produce-season-from-farm-to-fork\/","title":{"rendered":"Produce from Farm to Fork"},"content":{"rendered":"

As temperatures rise and days get longer, shippers begin gearing up for a busy produce season. Spring through early summer marks a time of tightened capacity, increased rates and scheduling constraints even if you aren’t in the produce industry. This is especially the case for companies shipping refrigerated products.<\/p>\n

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Produce Season<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Produce season in the U.S. typically begins in February and continues through July. The largest volume of fruits and vegetables are harvested and shipped to food manufacturers, grocery stores and other vendors across the country during this time. Growing and harvesting kick\u00a0off in Mexico and the U.S. begins to receive an influx of produce imports by February.\u00a0The produce wave moves to the Southeast, southern Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, and southern California in late March. It continues to move north as temperatures rise.<\/p>\n

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Produce Season Rates<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Demand for transportation rises while available capacity shrinks as a result of increased crop volumes and time-sensitivity involved in shipping fruits and vegetables. Shippers pay higher rates to secure refrigerated trucks, which are highly sought after.<\/p>\n

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Spot market freight volume typically rises about 30% in the spring and peaks in May. This shift sets the tone for other modes as well. In response to higher refrigerated capacity demand, dry van carriers and intermodal services experience seasonal demands that relate to shipment capacity and rate increases.<\/h3>\n

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Safe Transportation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Produce is sensitive freight due to various factors. The process of transporting items could become risky if carriers fail to use guidelines. However, there is no substitute for safety when dealing with produce and other\u00a0food items.<\/p>\n

Think about what makes produce so inviting at the grocery store. Most people would say it’s the appearance of the produce. Proper transportation and on-time pickup and delivery are the main factors in maintaining quality appearance along with overall freshness.<\/p>\n

The Food Modernization Safety Act (FMSA)\u00a0<\/a>focuses on maintaining food safety while transporting produce. The act, under the direction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), requires vehicles transporting food to adhere to strict standards. The goal is to prevent illness due to contaminated food.<\/p>\n

The FMSA implemented the following transportation requirements:<\/p>\n