Guide for the North American Cold Storage Network
In the intricate world of supply chain management, one critical component stands out for its importance in maintaining the quality and integrity of temperature-sensitive goods - the cold chain. This system, essential for perishable items like food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, ensures the products' freshness and prevents spoilage due to temperature fluctuations [1][2][3].
The cold chain begins at the source, with the harvesting or preparation of foods. From there, it follows a meticulously planned journey, involving several key components [2].
### Temperature Control
The cold chain guarantees a consistent temperature for all products, a crucial factor in preserving their quality and preventing spoilage. Different types of food require different temperature ranges; for instance, fruits and vegetables have specific temperature requirements dependent on their type [2].
### Packaging and Storage
Products are stored in refrigerated or insulated containers to maintain the required temperature. Advanced packaging solutions, such as passive temperature-controlled packaging, help in preserving the temperature even during transportation [4].
### Transportation Modes
Various modes of transportation are employed, including refrigerated trucks, railcars, cargo ships, and air cargo. Each mode must be equipped with mechanisms to maintain the appropriate temperature during transit [3].
### Real-time Monitoring
Logistics managers continuously monitor the cold chain to ensure that temperature levels are maintained throughout the supply chain. This involves tracking shipments and receiving real-time data to prevent temperature deviations [1].
### Logistical Planning
Effective planning is vital to manage the flow of goods efficiently from the source (e.g., farms) to the consumer, ensuring that products do not spend too long in transit or storage, which could lead to spoilage [2].
### The Cold Chain in Action
- **Harvest to Initial Cooling**: For highly perishable crops like broccoli or asparagus, rapid cooling is necessary right after harvesting to prevent spoilage. This can be achieved using hydrocoolers or flaked ice [2].
- **Transportation to Processing Plants**: After initial cooling, products are transported to processing plants where they are typically stored in refrigerated facilities.
- **Distribution and Delivery**: Products are then distributed via refrigerated vehicles to maintain the required temperature until they reach the consumer.
Cold warehouses, or public refrigerated warehouses (PRWs), play a significant role in the cold chain. Strategically located near agricultural regions and transportation hubs, these warehouses accept produce from hundreds or even thousands of producers [5]. They have grown in size since the post-pandemic e-commerce boom, with the average one now covering almost 185,000 square feet [6]. Cold warehouses have four main temperature zones: deep freeze, freezer, refrigerated, and cool storage [7].
While automation has reduced the number of workers needed, cold warehouses still maintain a large workforce for tasks like operating forklifts and assembling orders. However, workers in these environments face health and safety challenges, including cold-stress injuries, slips and falls, and trench foot [8].
Refrigerated trucks and shipping containers, known as reefers, are a critical and risky part of the cold chain, maintaining a constant temperature for food transportation. Reefers may travel long distances and carry multiple types of food, requiring the refrigeration unit to adapt to various conditions [9].
Temperature loggers, known as "Ryan" by produce truckers, are battery-powered and record temperature over a 10-40 day period [10]. These loggers are crucial for monitoring the cold chain and ensuring the safety and quality of the products throughout their journey from farm to fork [11].
The cold chain's importance is evident in the map showing major agricultural regions in the United States, including fruit and vegetable producers in the Central Valley of California and the Willamette Valley in Oregon, meat packing plants in the Upper Midwest, hog and chicken producers in the South, and seafood producers along both coasts [12].
References: [1] Cold Chain Federation. (2021). What is the cold chain? Retrieved from https://www.coldchainfederation.org.uk/about-us/what-is-the-cold-chain/
[2] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2011). Post-harvest losses and food waste: Extent, causes, prevention, and solutions. Retrieved from https://www.fao.org/3/a-i3687e.pdf
[3] United States Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Cold storage. Retrieved from https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grain-handling/cold-storage
[4] Cold Chain Technologies. (n.d.). Passive temperature-controlled packaging. Retrieved from https://coldchaintech.com/passive-temperature-controlled-packaging/
[5] Cold chain. (2021). In Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/cold-chain
[6] Cold chain. (2021). In Statista. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/topics/1076/cold-chain/
[7] Cold chain. (2021). In Food Logistics. Retrieved from https://www.foodlogistics.com/content/cold-chain-storage-and-distribution
[8] Cold chain. (2021). In American Journal of Industrial Medicine. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ajim.21469
[9] Cold chain. (2021). In Supply Chain Digital. Retrieved from https://www.supplychaindigital.com/logistics/cold-chain-logistics
[10] Cold chain. (2021). In Produce Business. Retrieved from https://www.producebusiness.com/technology/cold-chain-technology/temperature-loggers-track-performance-of-refrigerated-trucks
[11] Cold chain. (2021). In Food Safety News. Retrieved from https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2014/08/the-importance-of-temperature-loggers-in-the-cold-chain/
[12] Cold chain. (2021). In United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grain-handling/cold-storage/cold-chain-map
- In the manufacturing industry, sensors are essential for monitoring temperature within the cold chain during food-and-drink production and transportation.
- Financial institutions often provide loans and insurance policies to businesses involved in the cold chain, as the freshness and integrity of temperature-sensitive goods play a significant role in the sustainability of their lifestyle and food-and-drink market.
- Data-and-cloud-computing technologies play a crucial part in the efficient management of the cold chain, helping logistics managers to anticipate and prevent temperature deviations throughout the supply chain.
- The education-and-self-development sector can benefit from incorporating cold chain management curriculum in their programs, expanding opportunities for individuals to learn technology-related skills that are in high demand in the business and industry sectors.
- As the cold chain becomes more advanced and reliant on technology, it is essential to focus on safety measures, such as providing appropriate personal protective equipment and training to workers handling cold warehouse equipment or operating refrigerated vehicles in the food-and-drink industry.
