Perishable Goods

Perishable goods, also known as perishables, are products that can become unfit for consumption when exposed to environmental conditions such as high temperature and humidity, if not stored or transported in appropriate conditions. Perishable products can easily lose quality and freshness if proper storage and transportation conditions and standards are not met. For this reason, such goods need to be stored and transported with special attention. Although such goods can be delivered by all modes of transportation with necessary planning, air transportation is preferred for reaching the destination in the shortest possible time. Thanks to new technological developments and efficient transportation methods, perishable goods can be delivered anywhere with the pristine freshness as on the first day.

What is fast delivery of perishable goods?

Fast delivery of perishable goods is the process of delivering a product that maintains the appropriate storage conditions, while adhering to the relevant storage requirements, which is one of the most serious and sensitive operations in logistics. Some products may require temperature and humidity control in their natural environment. Therefore, fast delivery services for perishable goods are needed to deliver goods at a certain temperature, keeping it constant, and easily transportable at cold or hot temperatures.

The fast delivery service for perishable goods uses special rules and instructions for transporting products that require the preservation of thermal parameters.Globelink Unimar, which is a founding member and participant of the Perishable Logistics Network (PLN), was created to establish international standards for the transportation of perishable goods and ensure the safe delivery of perishable goods to desired destinations in accordance with special transportation standards.

Which products are included in quickly perishable cargo? Products that are easily affected by climate conditions such as heat, humidity, seasonal conditions, and environmental factors can be considered as quickly perishable cargo.

If these types of cargo do not comply with the specified standards for heat conditions, they may result in deterioration and quality degradation of products, which could lead to loss of functionality of the products. Products evaluated in the transportation of cargo to be preserved with ice include frozen products, food products, plants, flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen or fresh meat and meat products, eggs, and many types of fish. Each product must have a separate heat value for preservation. The calorific value to preserve the products should be maintained throughout the delivery period.

How should perishable cargo be packaged?

Packaging and loading standards must be followed for the transportation of quickly perishable cargo. Considering the delicate structure of the products, there are loading rules for quickly perishable cargo. Packaging is a very important step in quickly perishable cargo. Proper packaging is required for the product to reach the recipient without spoiling from the point of origin to the destination. Quickly perishable goods transported by air must be packaged according to standards.

It is necessary to use durable packaging during the transportation of quickly perishable goods for the product to be properly packaged. During transportation, the product should be placed in special boxes to prevent air from passing through and maintain a specific temperature. It should be noted that if a quickly perishable product requires special temperature requirements, this information should also be included on the package.

What should you pay attention to when transporting perishable goods?

Standards for the transportation of perishable goods are determined by international agreements such as the SPS Convention. The International Agreement on the Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment to be used for such Carriage, also known as ATP, includes specific rules for improving transportation methods and ensuring the safe transportation of perishable food products with the risk of becoming spoiled. On the other hand, the air transportation of perishable goods is carried out in accordance with the IATA PCR rules (Perishable Cargo Regulations).

During the transportation of perishable goods, it is important to pay attention to proper storage conditions. This includes maintaining proper temperatures and using durable packaging to protect the goods from physical damage during transportation. Additionally, it is important to comply with regulations and standards, such as the ATP and IATA PCR rules, to ensure the safe and efficient transportation of perishable goods.

What measures are taken during the transportation of perishable goods?

Several measures are taken to increase the shelf life of perishable goods during transportation. These measures vary depending on the mode of transportation, including air, dry, rail, and sea transportation. During this stage, especially during the loading operations, the classification of perishable goods should be made. Refrigerated trucks with air conditioning systems are preferred for transporting perishable cargo by road transport. Refrigerated containers, also known as reefer containers, are used for sea transportation. For perishable goods transported by air, active temperature monitoring containers, refrigerators, or freezers, and appropriate packaging can be used to avoid exposure to different temperatures.

What is the importance of the cold chain in the transportation of perishable goods?

The cold chain is very important for the transportation of perishable goods. Cold chain transportation is implemented in accordance with elements such as the code for perishable cargo.

The cold chain method, which is expressed as one of the stages of perishable goods, is known to be used in various types of transportation. Delivery operations for perishable goods are carried out using various transportation means, such as containers equipped with air conditioning systems, trucks, railroad cars, ships, and airplanes. The high demand for cold chain products comes mostly from the food and pharmaceutical industries. Perishable products, known as food products, reach their destination via the cold chain method at standard temperatures.

Air transportation, recognized as the fastest mode of transportation in the competitive environment, provides an advantage in the transportation of cold chain and perishable goods. The instruments that perform the refrigeration function through their features allow fast perishable foods to be stored and transported at ideal temperatures between -20 and +25 degrees. The cold chain, which allows the transportation of perishable goods under cold conditions, is an important method of transportation for perishable goods. There are certain points that should be considered to ensure the safe and secure delivery of perishable goods in the cold chain. The temperature of the products should be checked continuously to ensure equipment safety and prevent deterioration of use. Through the necessary checks, the cold chain of products and the shelf life of food products are preserved.

How are operations for perishable cargo carried out?

Gold Star Logistics, which provides 7/24 service with dedicated expert staff to these operations with an unconditional customer satisfaction approach in perishable cargo, one of the most serious and sensitive operations of logistics; meticulously carries out all necessary processes from receiving perishable cargo products while maintaining the required temperature range to loading, warehousing, sending to any desired destination port, and delivery at the destination while preserving the necessary temperature chain.