Avocados are a fruit that can be consumed on their own or mixed in with other ingredients to create delicious meals. That said, they’re perishable items that can spoil if you don’t ship them with care. You’ll need to follow a variety of guidelines to ensure they’re transported safely.
Key takeaways:
Let’s take a closer at what you’ll need to do.
Avocados are typically packed in single layer boxes or lug boxes. They’re packed in very tightly to ensure they don’t shift around while in transit. After being packed, the boxes are stacked on a pallet. The boxes are then secured to the platform using stretch wrap or plastic strapping.
Pallets are frequently used because they make loading and unloading easier. They also protect fragile items like avocados from damage during transit.
Related: 8 Advantages of Palletization
Avocados must be kept at an appropriate temperature during shipping. However, the exact temperature can vary based on the type of avocado. We’ve provided a graphic that shows the temperature cold-tolerant and cold-intolerant avocados should be kept, as well as the desired relative humidity.
Avocados that are kept below the recommended temperatures can suffer from chilling injuries. This will lead to the appearance of gray or brown coloration. Make sure you know what temperature your avocados should be kept prior to shipping.
When you’re shipping avocados domestically, you’ll need to follow the FDA’s Sanitary Transportation Rule. This was mandated by the Sanitary Food Transport Act (SFTA).
Requirements of the Sanitary Transportation Rule include:
Many of these requirements apply to, receivers, loads, and carriers. As a shipper, adherence to record keeping will be your top priority.
Related: Top 5 Shipping Documents
Avocados can be transported with other types of produce, but there are a variety of concerns you should know about.
This includes:
The biggest concern when shipping avocados with other fruits and vegetables is the presence of ethylene. Ethylene is a gas that some plants, such as apples and grapes, naturally produce.
If ethylene is trapped in an enclosed space, it can speed up the ripening process of avocados. Avocados and produce that release high levels of ethylene can still be shipped in the same truck, but they shouldn’t be transported in the same box or container.
Below is a list of high ethylene producing fruits and vegetables:
Avocados should only be shipped with fruits and vegetables that have the same temperature and humidity requirements. If they’re not, either your avocados or the other produce in the shipment will be ruined.
There are various transportation services you can use to ship your avocados. We’ll discuss them in the following sections.
LTL stands for less than truckload and refers to shipments that take up only a portion of a truck’s space. If you’re shipping a few avocados (typically five pallets or fewer), LTL is often the best choice. You’re only responsible for paying for the portion of the truck that your freight occupies, so the cost is low.
That said, the truck transporting your avocados will stop more often since other freight is on board. This can affect how quickly your avocados will arrive, as well as how fresh they are.
Related: What Is LTL Shipping?
FTL, or Full Truckload shipping, is when one shipment occupies the entirety of a trailer. This is the best choice for high volume loads. FTL shipments are also much faster compared to similar transportation options.
Unlike LTL freight, FTL loads will only make one stop. This can save a significant amount of time and ensure that your avocados arrive at their desired stage of ripeness.
In addition to LTL and FTL services, expedited freight is an option that may be necessary. The need may arise if your avocados are close to ripening or if you have tight deadlines.
Some of the expedited freight service options offered by carriers are listed below:
Expedited freight shipping is slightly more expensive than average transportation services. However, when your avocado shipment needs to arrive quickly, expedited service is a must.
USA Truckload Shipping has the logistical infrastructure in place for your avocado shipments. We use a vast network of carriers located all over the country to pick up, transport, and deliver your avocados with care. With the help of our carriers, we can use a variety of freight services to move your cargo.
Get the transportation services you need for your avocados. If you have any questions about the services, reach out to us on our contact page or give us a call at (866) 353-7178.
R+L Global Logistics
315 NE 14th St., Ocala, FL 34470
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