TRANSPORT

Food marketing and consumption centers are commonly far from production areas of
horticultural crops. In addition, the accessibility to world markets, including distant ones, has increased
in the last few years. These factors emphasize the need for improved transport methods and
infrastructure.

Proper transport management is extremely essential in modern horticulture. Good transport

requires effective packing, packaging, palletization, stacking, proper temperature and air circulation and
ventilation. One of the major causes of produce deterioration and losses is mechanical damage, and thus
transport should avoid this problem.

Several technologies have been developed to improve the handling of fresh horticultural crops
during transport. Some of these technologies include the use of modified and controlled atmospheres,
ripening, quarantine systems, etc, aboard transport vehicles, especially during marine transport.

In the last years rail transport of horticultural crops has declined, while road and marine transport
have increased in the world.

Mode of transport

The mode of transportation of fresh horticultural crops depends on distance, perishability and
value of the product, and cost of transportation method. Different modes of transport used for
horticultural crops in the world, include:
􀁸 Road transport (trucks, refrigerated or not)
􀁸 Railroad transport
􀁸 Water transport (rivers, lakes, canals, sea)
􀁸 Air transport (cargo or passenger)

In all types of transport methods, several factors should be observed, including:

􀁸 Produce should be protected from heating, wind, water loss, and mechanical injury.
􀁸 Loading and unloading should be executed fast and careful.
􀁸 Loading tightly to reduce movement and make best use of space.
􀁸 Distribute weight evenly.
􀁸 Provide sufficient spaces for ventilation and air circulation.
􀁸 Do not exceed the capacity of the vehicle or container.

Road transport

This transport system has increased very significantly all over the world, and now is the most
dominant transport system due to several reasons, such as:
1. Flexibility, door to door delivery, fast, easy loading and unloading.
2. Roads improvements.
3. Development of compact portable refrigeration systems.

However, this transport system can be energy intensive, expensive, and need a relatively developed road
infrastructure.
 In many developing countries, land transport is done with open non-refrigerated trucks. These
are sometimes managed inadequately. The produce is loaded in ways which promotes major problems
such as, inadequate transport containers, inappropriate stacking, inadequate packages, very rough
loading methods, poor or non-existing air circulation, heating and mechanical injury to the produce. This
system must be changed, if food losses are to be reduced. Non-refrigerated transport must be improved
by reducing the transported load, improving the stacking system, avoid heating and mechanical damage
to the produce. Refrigerated containers should be increased.

Enclosed vehicles are suitable for short journey, and often used for urban retail delivery. Open
pick-ups and open trucks are common for road transport in developing countries. Natural ventilation is
always sufficient to prevent heating during short distance transport; however, for long distance transport
this may not be adequate, and thus refrigerated vehicles become necessary.

There is a tendency, especially in some developing countries, to use refrigerated containers for
pre-cooling of produce, which is not very effective due to insufficient refrigeration capacity Fig (1). In
other cases, in some developing countries, refrigerated containers are used as permanent storage space
especially in wholesale markets, which is also not very effective, especially if the refrigerated container
is old and deteriorated.

Railroad transport

This transport system can provide smooth ride, relatively inexpensive, even though it is slower
than other transport systems (mainly road transport), and less versatile. However, this system of
transport is declining significantly all over the world, although the increasing cost of fuel may revive
interests for its use.

River transport

River transport is commonly used in several countries especially in Asia. This system can be
slow, and it is commonly non-refrigerated.

Sea transport

Sea transport of horticultural crops has increased very significantly all over the world. This is
due to the significant increase in horticultural crop trade, and its low cost compared to air transport Fig
(2a, 2b). This transport system is usually used for long distances, and therefore it is not adequate for
very perishable crops.

Reefer vessels are mostly refrigerated, with adequate air circulation system, and controllable
rates of air-exchange. Capacity of reefer vessels is usually high (2000-4000 tons or more). Reefer or
intermodal containers are specialized form of sea transportation and their use is increasing in world trade
of fresh horticultural crops. These are of standard size of 8 (wide) x 8.5 (high) feet cross section, and 10,
20, 30, or 40 feet long. The most commonly used containers are those of 20 and 40 feet. Refrigeration of
the container is either independent powered electrically by the container vessel (integral containers), or
provided entirely by vessel system (porthole containers). Most of containers for fresh fruits and
vegetables are constructed with bottom (vertical) air delivery. Reefer containers have several advantages
such as they can be loaded at the packinghouse, reduction in handling losses, independent temperature
control, and possibility for the use of modified and controlled atmospheres. However, they can be
expensive, unavailability of handling facilities for containers in some ports, require special lifting
equipment, possibility for damages, and delayed returns of the containers.

Air transport

Air transport is still mostly done on passenger airplanes with very little quantities of fresh
horticultural crops been carried on cargo planes. This system is relatively fast and therefore it is suitable
for very perishable crops (such as berries and flowers) and that of high value; however its cost is still
very high. Equipment available for this system include air cargo containers, and air cargo pallets with
netting.
Many crops transported by air from several developing countries are not pre-cooled, nor refrigerated
before shipping, and airports and planes do not provide refrigeration system. Most of the packages used
for these crops are inadequate, and most of them are not even meant for perishable crops.

Due to the high cost of air transport, produce shipped should be of the highest quality, and
quality deterioration should be reduced before, during and after transport. The produce should be pre-
cooled, and maintained at the lowest possible temperature (close to optimum temperature), and should
arrive to the airport well ahead of the flight departure. Facilities should be available at the airport to keep
the produce during the waiting period in a protected environment and at the proper temperature. At the
waiting points the produce should be handled with care to avoid heating, and mechanical damage.
Logistic and paper work at the airport should be done in advance.

Air shipments of fresh produce are still mostly done with passenger carriers. Passenger and cargo
carriers usually use unit load containers (Fig 3), but also can carry packages loaded as loose bulk. In
addition to the lack of refrigeration, especially on passenger planes, produce heating can be a major
problem during waiting periods and over stops at airports. Produce shipped in passenger carriers is
usually maintained at the same temperature and pressure as the passenger cabin. However, lower
temperatures can be maintained by the use of gel refrigerants or dry ice (solid CO 2). In addition to
decreasing the temperature of the produce, dry ice can increase the concentration of CO 2 in the
atmosphere, and may provide a slightly modified atmosphere. Insulation materials could be used around
the containers to prevent temperature increase of produce in the container.

Management of horticultural crops during transport

Transport system should protect the produce from deterioration by high temperature, high air
movements, low relative humidity (increases water loss), mechanical damage, and should not cause any
safety problems.

Fresh produce losses in developing countries due to transport are very high, mainly due to
overheating and mechanical injury. Refrigerated transport is not commonly used, and roads and vehicles
conditions are not usually adequate. In addition, packages used during transport have several
disadvantages including inadequate use of space (such as the case of baskets), big size, and increased
mechanical damage to produce. Although refrigeration is very important during the transport of fresh
horticultural crops, non-refrigerated transport systems can be used, especially for short distances and for
products that are not very perishable. Non-refrigerated transport vehicles should be adequately covered
to be protected from rain, high temperatures, and air movements. It is preferable that non-refrigerated
transport be carried out when temperature is low (night, early morning, late afternoons). Loading and
arrangement of the produce in these non-refrigerated vehicles should be done in a manner that will not
cause the warming-up of the crop. The vehicle should not be overloaded, and the load should be
adequately fixed. Truck suspension system should be always checked and maintained in an adequate
condition, and driver should avoid the use of poor roads, and should be trained to drive adequately to
reduce load movement and mechanical injury. The vehicle should be maintained clean, especially in the
interior. The use of refrigerated transport is increasing in many countries, especially during road and
marine transport. Refrigerated vehicles/containers should be managed adequately to reduce quality
deterioration, and to preserve produce quality. The following factors should be observed very carefully:
􀁸 Refrigerated capacity of the container should be adequate.
􀁸 The vehicle and the load should be pre-cooled before loading.
􀁸 Good air circulation is required to maintain temperature uniformity, to avoid the build-up of hot spots,
and the accumulation of gases such as CO2 and ethylene.
􀁸 Transport containers should not be overloaded to permit an adequate air circulation.
􀁸 Stacking patterns, and packages type and designs should be adequate to permit an adequate air
movement. Package design should take in consideration the type of air circulation in the transport
container. Sufficient spaces should be allowed in top, bottom, back and sides of the load to permit air
circulation.
􀁸 A ventilation system should be adequate to eliminate the accumulation of gases such as CO 2 and
ethylene and other undesirable volatiles and odors.
􀁸 The load should remain stable during the entire transit. Load movement should be prevented by using
braces, bars, gates or other devices.
􀁸 Transport container should be kept clean.
􀁸 Light external container colors can reduce heating of the load (reflects heat), instead of dark colored
external color containers which can heat the load (by absorbing heat).
􀁸 Care should be taken to reduce damage to container walls, and thus avoiding damaging the insulation
system.

Temperature control

Temperature control and devices are important in refrigerated containers. Thermostats should
control the cooling and heating systems, the defrost mechanism, and the fans. It is preferable that
temperature monitoring devices (Fig 7), be placed in return-air and the discharge-air channels. If only
one monitoring device is to be used, it is important to be located in the return-air (warm position)
channels. However, the most important temperature to be monitored is that of the produce itself.
Thermostats used should be accurately calibrated periodically.

For refrigerated containers/vehicles refrigerated units are commonly mounted directly on the
container, and powered by diesel motors, or by electricity on docks or on ships in the case of marine
transport.

Crushed ice is sometimes used as a supplement to refrigeration either on top of the load, or in
containers, especially during road transport of some crops.