Prime Fresh Handling has years of experience working in shipping many different products and produce, including cranberry transportation. Shipping fruit of any kind is no easy feat and can bring many different obstacles. Cranberry transportation is no exception, These fruits need to be handled carefully, or they could get smashed and damaged.
As with all sensitive perishable commodities, fresh cranberries need to be shipped carefully and with proper preservation efforts. Temperatures, packaging, and what type of cranberries are being shipped are all factors that need to be considered when shipping the fruit. Our shipping company can help our readers and our clients understand and learn more about shipping cranberries with these FAQs.
Where Are Cranberries Grown in the US?
Cranberries are one of the few types of berries that are native to the US. They are grown in northern states like New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. In fact, Wisconsin and Massachusetts are the top two providers of the majority of cranberries in the United States, providing about 90% of all the cranberries grown in the nation. The average person in the United States consumes a few pounds of cranberries a year, and millions of pounds are consumed nationwide. This means that the logistics involved in cranberry transportation are very detail oriented and need to be organized from start to finish. It is imperative to help the cranberries survive the journey from bog to the table.How to Store Cranberries for Shipping
Cranberries are berries that have tougher skin than most others do but should still be handled with care. They are still susceptible to bruising and breaking on the skin, which could speed up spoilage and potentially open the opportunity for bacteria to ruin the entire batch. There are a few options for packaging fresh cranberries. One of them is packing them in plastic bags with holes in them to vent out any excess moisture. There is also a clamshell packaging option. These bags should be placed in larger, sturdy boxes that are strong enough to support the weight of the palletization. Another option is to ship the fruit in bulk. They can be loaded up into plastic or fiberboard bulk bins and then loaded into freight trucks or other forms of transport solutions. It is best to use containers that are able to close or stack in the trucks. Stacking boxes that aren’t strong enough to hold the weight can get crushed en route to their final destination.Do Cranberries Have to Be Refrigerated?
Cranberries do not typically have any temperature regulations if they are being moved short distances. Most cranberries are processed before being sold to consumers, so they are transported short distances to a processing plant. However, the weather plays a heavy hand in this. If it is too warm or too cold of a day, the berries might not stay as fresh as they should be on the way to other facilities. As a precautionary measure, trucks and other transportation methods should always be insulated, and a heat-reflective tarp is also important if the truck is open at the top. For longer distances, cranberries should be kept at a temperature between 36 and 39 degrees Fahrenheit if they will be on the road for more than a few hours. At this temperature, the berries can be safely stored for up to 4 months as long as the conditions are favorable.How Are Cranberries Processed for Shipping?
Cranberries are often shipped fresh but are typically transported to processing plants to be turned into different cranberry products. Cranberries can be used to make desserts, sides, snacks, beverages, and more, including:- Juiced
- Jam and jelly
- Canned
- Frozen
- Cranberry sauce
- Tea blends
- Pies and pastries
