Caring transportation of fruits and vegetables by cargo transport

Vegetables are the basis of the diet for most of the planet's inhabitants alongside grains. Fruits are rich in vitamins and fiber and are very beneficial for health. Vegetables and fruits are grown in fields and gardens, with the fields and gardens of exotic vegetables and fruits located in exotic countries. However, the majority of consumers of fruits and vegetables live in cities. Therefore, the transportation of plant food products is part of daily cargo transportation, and the volume of such transportation is constantly increasing.

Features of transporting vegetables and fruits as cargo

From a transportation perspective, fruits and vegetables have one main feature — under normal conditions, they spoil quickly. To maintain the quality of vegetables and fruits, they require a special temperature and humidity regime. Each type of vegetable and fruit has its own specific regime. The same regime must be created for vegetables and fruits during transportation.

Vegetables and fruits can also suffer from mechanical damage: shaking during transit, impacts during loading and unloading. Therefore, vegetables and fruits must be packed in protective containers before transportation, and the transportation itself must be carried out carefully.

Rules for transporting vegetables and fruits

When discussing the rules for transporting vegetables and fruits, it is worth separating international rules for their transportation and the actual state of such transportation in the CIS countries. International rules for the transportation of fruit and vegetable products stipulate that:

• Before transportation, all fruits and vegetables must be sorted by variety and ripeness.
• The transportation of damaged, rotten, or otherwise spoiled vegetables and fruits is not allowed.
• The transport for transporting vegetables and fruits must be clean and disinfected.
• Vegetables and fruits are accepted for transportation packed in plastic boxes, cardboard boxes, plastic film, and other containers suitable for the specific fruit.
• All transportation of vegetables and fruits is carried out exclusively in refrigerated vehicles, ensuring the necessary temperature and humidity regime for specific fruits.
• The transport for loading vegetables and fruits is provided heated or cooled to the required temperature, depending on the season.
• Naturally, all cargo inside the cargo compartment must be secured so that it does not shift during transit and does not get damaged.

These are normal rules that will reliably preserve fruit and vegetable products during transit. However, compliance with these rules is only monitored at border crossings at customs clearance points.

Within the countries of the former USSR, there are no penalties for violating these rules, and fruit and vegetable products are often transported using non-specialized transport. It is believed that this is done at night when the air temperature is not high, but in reality, such transportation occurs at any time. Melons, potatoes, carrots, and other hard vegetables are often transported in bulk. Tomatoes, apples, and grapes are transported in bulk to canning and wine factories. Dump trucks are often used for such transportation.

Transporting with non-specialized vehicles allows for savings on the delivery of fruit and vegetable products. It can be concluded that the decision on how vegetables and fruits will be transported within the CIS countries is made by the shipper. They are also responsible for the spoilage of the cargo during transit if they did not choose a refrigerated vehicle and proper packaging.

Transportation of fruit and vegetable products by different types of transport

Fruits and vegetables can be transported by airplanes, by rail, by water, and by road transport. In other words, all types of modern transport allow for the transportation of fruit and vegetable products.

When transporting by road, the main method of transportation should be the delivery of vegetables and fruits by refrigerated vans, semi-trailers, and trailers. This is also the only method for international transportation of fruits and vegetable products. Within the CIS countries, refrigerated vehicles, flatbed or covered trucks, trailers, and semi-trailers in any configuration can also be used for transporting vegetables and fruits. Sometimes open dump trucks are used for such transportation. Delivery of refrigerated ISO containers by truck platforms is also possible.

By rail, vegetables and fruits must be transported in refrigerated cars as part of refrigerated trains. Within the CIS countries, the transportation of fruit and vegetable products can be done using boxcars and hopper cars, as well as on railway platforms in refrigerated containers.

Water transport within the CIS countries can transport fruits and vegetables using regular barges, including in bulk. However, there are special refrigerated fruit carriers and refrigerated containers in which fruits are transported from countries in Asia, the East, Africa, Turkey, and Spain.

Aviation is often used for transporting expensive exotic perishable vegetables and fruits. However, technically it can be used for transporting any fruit and vegetable products.

If you are looking for a carrier for vegetables and fruits and are interested in the cost of transportation, place a request in the section “Add Cargo”. Representatives of carriers will contact you.