Top 4 Steps to Ship Perishable Goods Successfully

The shipping process of the companies is one of the most vital factors. This is why most companies contact reputed freight forwarding services when they want to ship something. Transporting perishable items involves a shift of temperature-sensitive items. They are also an integral part of cold chain logistics. With the increasing demand for international trade, the transportation process of perishable products is changing every day.

Perishable products include meat, poultry, dairy products, seafood, fruits, vegetables, and other types of goods that require frozen storage. Keep in mind that transportation of the perishable product is a hard process to achieve. You have to ensure the high quality of the products when they reach customers. It doesn’t matter if you transport the perishable goods via air or sea, remember that you don’t have unlimited time. If you face any unplanned delays, the goods in the cargo might be damaged. Here are the top 4 tips to ship perishable goods successfully.

High Amount of Insulation

Only a handful of shippers know that the first thing to protect the perishable goods while shipping them on the road is by using good insulation methods. Make sure you wrap the perishable goods in the first insulation layer. This way the goods won’t be in touch with the cooling agents directly.

When you’re implementing insulation methods for the real container, you might have to use high-quality materials. Therefore, research the type of materials that are appropriate for the particular goods in the test run. Styrofoam is a great insulate as they come with protective properties. On the other hand, wood boxes are great for dry ice.

Appropriate Cooling Agent

Shippers will have two choices to keep the perishable goods cold during shipping. The first method is using gel packs. Even though gel packs are a great cooling option, they don’t last long. Therefore, they are perfect for shorter transportation processes or goods that aren’t vulnerable to temperature shifts.

Another great cooling agent is pellet or solid dry ice. Dry ice is extremely effective at keeping things cold for a couple of days. Dry ice is an essential item if perishable foods need to be kept frozen during the shipment. As per Worldofchemicals, dry ice can be used to preserve food through non-cyclic refrigeration.

Tailored Time Frames

When you prepare for your shipment, make sure the cargo reaches the destination within the designated period. While most perishable goods come with a standard three days deadline, keep in mind that some goods have shorter longevity than others.

For instance, due to its dry texture and unpasteurized ingredients, hard cheese can stay much longer on the road than soft cheese. Soft cheese might get damaged after a couple of days, but the hard cheese will stay the same. But some freshly produce products might be damaged if you don’t take the necessary precautions while shipping them.

No Unnecessary Space

While choosing the packaging containers and material for the shipment of your perishable goods, make sure the space inside the container is as little as possible. When the space between the solid items is lesser, the more time the goods will stay cooler. Therefore, don’t forget to measure the containers as well as the outer packaging that is relevant to the cooling agents. This is why many shippers contact freight forwarder association for a custom-built container to ship perishable goods.

Conclusion

These are the top 4 steps to ship perishable goods successfully. Shipping perishable goods is undoubtedly an overwhelming task. But if you plan properly, you can ship them without any problem.