Shelf life, shelf life, shelf life!
Produce has an interesting mix of factors to consider before mapping out a truck, especially if there will be different types of produce in the same load.
Even though transportation takes only a few days of shelf life of produce that could be a month or more, the handling during transit is extremely important to maximize this shelf life. For example, if “x” fruit or vegetable warms up out of critical range such as 30% above the recommended storage temperature, it could cut the shelf life in half.
If a truck is loaded with ethylene-sensitive produce, and it comes in contact with fruits or vegetables that product high volumes of ethylene as they ripen, it accelerates the ripening of the sensitive product. This would be detrimental to the shelf life for the sensitive produce!
Here’s a detailed chart on how different produce should be handled:
| Product | Transit Temp Temp F |
Freezing Temp F |
Humidity % |
Ethylene Production/Sensitivity |
Ice Yes/No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | |||||
| Apples | 32-36 | 30 | 90-95 | Very High/High | No |
| Apricots | 32 | 30.1 | 90-95 | Medium/High | No |
| Artichokes | 33-38 | 29.9 | 95-100 | Very Low/Low | Yes |
| Asparagus, green | 32-35 | 30.9 | 95-100 | Very Low/Medium | No |
| Asparagus, white | 32-36 | — | 95-100 | — | No |
| Avocados | 40 | 31.5 | 85 | High/High | No |
| B | |||||
| Bananas | 56-58 | 30.6 | 90-95 | Medium/High | No |
| Beans, green | 40-45 | 30.7 | 95 | Low/Medium | No |
| Beans, haricot | 40-45 | — | 95 | — | No |
| Beans, lima | 37-41 | 31 | 95 | Low/Medium | No |
| Beets | 32 | 30.3 | 98-100 | Very Low/Low | Yes |
| Blackberries | 32 | 30.5 | 90-95 | Low/Low | No |
| Blueberries | 31-32 | 29.7 | 90-95 | Low/Low | No |
| Broccoli | 32 | 30.9 | 95-100 | Very Low/High | Yes |
| Brussels sprouts | 32 | 30.5 | 95-100 | Very Low/High | Yes |
| C | |||||
| Cabbage, green | 32 | 30.4 | 98-100 | Very Low/High | Yes |
| Cabbage, Chinese | 32 | — | 95-100 | — | Yes |
| Cabbage, red | 32 | 30.4 | 90-95 | Very Low/High | Yes |
| Carrots, w/greens | 32 | 29.5 | 98-100 | Very Low/High | Yes |
| Cauliflower | 32 | 30.6 | 90-98 | Very Low/High | No |
| Celery | 34-36 | 31.1 | 85-90 | Very Low/Medium | Yes |
| Celery root | 33-35 | — | 95-100 | — | Yes |
| Cherries | 32 | 28.8 | 90-95 | — | No |
| Chicory | 33-35 | — | 95-100 | — | — |
| Clementines | 38-40 | — | 90-95 | — | No |
| Coconut, fresh | 32-35 | 30.4 | — | Low/High | No |
| Corn, sweet | 34-38 | 30.9 | 85-90 | — | Yes |
| Cranberries | 38-40 | 30.4 | 90-95 | Low/Low | No |
| Cucumbers | 45-50 | 31.1 | 90-95 | Low/High | No |
| Cucumbers, seedless | 50-55 | — | 85-90 | — | No |
| E | |||||
| Eggplant | 46-54 | 30.6 | 90-95 | Low/Medium | No |
| Eggplant, Japanese | 46-54 | — | 90-95 | — | No |
| Endive, Belgian | 36-38 | — | 95-98 | Very Low/Medium | No |
| Endive, curly | 32 | 31.9 | 90-95 | Very Low/Medium | Yes |
| F | |||||
| Fennel | 32 | — | 90-95 | — | — |
| Figs | 34 | — | 85-90 | Medium/Low | No |
| G | |||||
| Garlic | 32-34 | 30.5 | 65-75 | Very Low/Low | No |
| Grapes | 32 | 29.7 | 85 | Very Low/Low | No |
| Grapefruit, AZ, CA | 50-55 | 30 | 85-90 | Very Low/Medium | No |
| Grapefruit, FL, TX | 50-60 | 30 | 85-90 | Very Low/Medium | No |
| K | |||||
| Kale | 34-36 | — | 95-100 | Very Low/Medium | Yes |
| Kiwifruit | 32 | 29 | 90-95 | Low/High | No |
| Kohlrabi | 34-36 | — | 95-100 | Very Low/Low | Yes |
| Kumquats | 40 | — | 90-95 | — | No |
| L | |||||
| Leeks | 32 | 30.7 | 95-100 | Very Low/Medium | Yes |
| Lemons | 45-48 | 29.2 | 85-90 | — | No |
| Lettuce, Boston | 32 | — | 90-95 | Low/Medium | Yes |
| Lettuce, iceberg | 34-36 | 31.7 | 98-100 | Very Low/High | Yes |
| Lettuce, romaine | 32 | 31.7 | 95 | — | Yes |
| Limes | 55 | 29.1 | 85-90 | — | No |
| M | |||||
| Mangoes | 55 | 30.3 | 85-90 | Medium/Medium | No |
| Melons, bitter | 53-55 | — | 85-90 | Low/Medium | No |
| Melons, cantaloupe | 35-40 | 29.9 | 90 | High/Medium | No |
| Melons, honeydew | 45-50 | 30.5 | 90-95 | — | No |
| Melons, mixed | 50 | 30.5 | 90-95 | — | No |
| Melons, pepino | 40-42 | — | 85-90 | Low/Medium | No |
| Melons, water | 50-60 | 31.3 | 90 | Very Low/High | No |
| Mushrooms | 34-38 | 30.4 | 85-90 | — | No |
| N | |||||
| Nectarines | 31-32 | 30.4 | 90-95 | Medium/High | No |
| O | |||||
| Okra | 43-45 | 28.7 | 85-95 | Low/Medium | No |
| Onions, dry | 32 | 30.6 | 65-70 | Very Low/Low | No |
| Onions, green | 32 | 30.4 | 95-100 | Low/High | Yes |
| Oranges, AZ | 32-48 | 30.6 | 85-90 | Very Low/Medium | No |
| Oranges, CA | 45-48 | 30.6 | 85-90 | Very Low/Medium | No |
| Oranges, FL | 32-34 | 30.6 | 85-90 | Very Low/Medium | No |
| Oranges, TX | 32-48 | 30.6 | 85-90 | Very Low/Medium | No |
| Oranges, blood | 40-44 | — | 90-95 | — | No |
| P | |||||
| Papayas | 50-55 | — | 85-90 | — | No |
| Parsley | 32 | — | 95-100 | — | Yes |
| Parsnips | 33-35 | — | 95-100 | — | Yes |
| Passion fruit | 45-54 | — | 85-95 | Very Low/High | No |
| Peaches | 32 | 30.4 | 90-95 | High/High | No |
| Pears | 32 | 29.2 | 90-95 | High/High | No |
| Peas, green | 32-35 | 30.9 | 85-95 | Very Low/Medium | Yes |
| Peppers, bell | 45-50 | 30.7 | 85-90 | Low/Low | No |
| Peppers, chili | 38-44 | 30.7 | 60-70 | Low/Medium | No |
| Persimmons | 40-45 | — | 90-95 | Low/High | — |
| Pineapple, green | 50-55 | 30 | 85-90 | — | No |
| Pineapple, ripe | 45 | 30 | 85-90 | Low/Low | No |
| Plantains | 54-58 | — | 85-90 | Low/High | No |
| Plums | 32 | 30.5 | 90-95 | Medium/High | No |
| Pomegranates | 41 | — | 90-95 | — | No |
| Potatoes | 45-50 | 30.9 | 90 | Very Low/Medium | No |
| Potatoes, new | 45-50 | 30.9 | 90 | Very Low/Medium | No |
| Pummelos | 45-48 | — | 85-90 | — | No |
| Pumpkins | 50-60 | 30.5 | 50-75 | Low/Medium | No |
| Q | |||||
| Quince | 31-32 | — | 90 | — | No |
| R | |||||
| Radicchio | 32-34 | — | 95-100 | — | No |
| Radishes | 32 | 30.7 | 95-100 | Very Low/Low | Yes |
| Raspberries, black | 32 | 30 | 90-95 | Low/Low | No |
| Raspberries, red | 32 | 30.9 | 90-95 | Low/Low | No |
| Rhubarb | 33-35 | — | 95-100 | Very Low/Low | No |
| Rutaba gas | 32 | — | 98-100 | — | No |
| S | |||||
| Satsumas | 37-39 | — | 85-90 | High/High | No |
| Shallots | 32 | — | 95-100 | Low/Low | Yes |
| Spinach | 32 | 31.5 | 95-100 | Very Low/High | Yes |
| Squash, hard | 50-55 | 30.5 | 70-75 | Low/Medium | No |
| Squash, soft | 41-50 | 31.1 | 95 | Low/Medium | No |
| Squash, zucchini | 45-50 | — | 90-95 | Very Low/Low | No |
| Strawberries | 32 | 30.6 | 90.95 | Low/Low | No |
| Sweet potatoes | 55-60 | — | 85-90 | Low/Low | No |
| T | |||||
| Tangerines | 40 | 30.1 | 90-95 | Very Low/Medium | No |
| Tomatoes, green | 62-68 | — | 85-88 | Very Low/High | No |
| Tomatoes, pink | 62-68 | — | 85-88 | High/Low | No |
| Tomatillos | 55-60 | — | 85-90 | Very Low/Medium | No |
| Turnips | 32 | — | 85-90 | Very Low/Low | No |
| W | |||||
| Watercress | 33-35 | — | 95-100 | Very Low/High | Yes |
| Source: US Department of Agriculture | |||||
Another consideration to take is how different products affect each other if they are in the same truck. Get in touch with the team at BOA Logistics! We have experience in planning LTL with all the nuances that come with your temperature sensitive freight and most major distribution centers.
