Refrigerated transport can be nerve-wracking for people with inadequate experience in the trade. More often than not, they will encounter product spoilage when transporting perishables. Below are some best practices to observe when transporting fresh produce. 

Understand Your Products

A common mistake made by most people is failing to understand the products that they wish to transport. As a result, their products do not arrive as fresh as they would want. Consider the following before transporting your products: 

• Know the shelf life of the fresh produce you intend to transport. Products with a short shelf life will lose taste and colour if they spend too much time in the reefer.
• Recognize the optimum transportation temperatures. Slight temperature variations could significantly affect the freshness of the produce.
• Understand how to prepare the products for transport. More often than not, you will need to clean the products and remove anything that is damaged. Besides, the products should be packed in such a way that they do not get damaged during transport.
• Rember that hygiene is a vital aspect of refrigerated transport. Therefore, disinfect the refrigeration unit before loading your products. 

Work With An Experienced Company

When choosing a refrigerated transport company, one of your concerns should be the company's experience in transporting fresh produce. Therefore, conduct some background research to ascertain their expertise and reputation. Client reviews would be a good starting point. However, examine the staff and management's qualifications. 

What vehicles will the company use to transport your produce? Visit the company's premises to examine the condition of these vehicles and their suitability in conducting refrigerated transport. Typically, the refrigeration unit should be fully functional. Besides, the unit should have sufficient circulation of air. If you intend to transport a small volume of products, the unit should be divided to ensure your products do not get contaminated by those of other clients. Consider companies that integrate modern technology into their refrigerated transport practices. For instance, some companies will allow you to monitor your products remotely.  

Cold Chain Management

Assess the company's cold chain management techniques. For instance, you will want to know how long it will take to transport the produce to its destination and the stops that the truck will make. If the truck will make regular stops, ask how the company will maintain optimum temperatures in the refrigerated truck. Consider companies that offer a wide range of services, including cold storage facilities. It ensures your products remain under refrigeration before clients can pick them. 

Transporting fresh produce should now be easy with the above guide. Understand your products, work with an experienced company and observe the recommended cold chain management techniques. For more information, contact a refrigerated transport service.