由 lltx1822 The Role of Cold Chain Logistics in International Fresh Food Transportation
Cold chain logistics is the backbone of international fresh food transportation, ensuring products like seafood, fruits, and meat maintain quality from origin to destination. Temperature consistency is its core requirement. Advanced refrigerated containers (reefers) equipped with GPS and temperature sensors allow real-time monitoring, with alarms triggering if temperatures deviate from the optimal range (e.g., 0-4°C for fresh meat, 12-15°C for bananas). For example, transporting Norwegian salmon to China requires maintaining -1.5°C throughout the 15-20 day sea journey, with sensors logging data to prove compliance with food safety standards.
Pre-cooling and packaging are equally important. Fresh produce should be pre-cooled to the target temperature before loading to reduce the load on reefer systems. Vacuum packaging or modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)—which adjusts oxygen and carbon dioxide levels—extends shelf life. For instance, MAP can double the freshness period of strawberries from 5 days to 10 days, reducing spoilage risks during transportation.
Network coordination is key. Cold chain involves multiple stakeholders: farmers, processors, carriers, and retailers. Establishing partnerships with global cold chain providers like Maersk Container Industry (for reefers) or Lineage Logistics (for cold storage) ensures seamless handoffs. For example, Chilean cherry exporters work with logistics firms to coordinate pre-shipment cooling, air freight to China, and immediate transfer to cold storage upon arrival, ensuring cherries reach consumers within 72 hours of harvest.
Regulatory compliance is also critical. Many countries require cold chain documentation, such as temperature logs and phytosanitary certificates. For example, China mandates that imported fruits have a continuous temperature record from packing to arrival, with non-compliant shipments facing rejection.