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Mastering the Art of Florida Citrus Transportation

Published on
October 3, 2024
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By
VCPB

Tourists flock to Florida for loads of fun at the theme parks and beaches. Refrigerated — reefer — transportation providers head to the Sunshine State for loads of citrus.

In the 2022-23 season, Florida accounted for 17% of total U.S. citrus production – about 18.1 million boxes of fruit. While orange production in the state has plummeted over the last 20 years because of natural disasters and fruit diseases, there is still plenty of citrus for transportation providers skilled in delivering perishable goods in pristine condition.

Squeezing Success: Citrus Transport in the Sunshine State

Florida oranges are harvested from October through June, with peak production in the winter. Florida grapefruit is ripe from September through June, with the height of the harvest in February. Tangerines and tangelos are harvested from October to March.

The state’s crop this year has been impacted by infections of citrus canker, sweet orange scab, and citrus black spot, a citrus greening disease, as well as weather — an unusually dry early summer followed by heavy rains in August and September and damage from Hurricane Debby.

During the citrus seasons, trucking carriers make their way to Florida’s top five citrus-producing counties of Polk, Highlands, DeSoto, St. Lucie, and Hendry, according to data from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which said oranges make up 69% of the state’s total citrus production, trailed by grapefruit at 10% and tangerines and tangelos at 3%.

Unpeeling Efficient Florida Citrus Transportation

Revised procedures – Version 9.0 of the guide is 20 pages long – for the shipment of fresh Florida citrus were implemented on Sept. 1.

According to the procedures, for example, Florida fruit can only be shipped interstate from packinghouses or distributors that operate under a signed Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) compliance agreement issued by a local U.S. Department of Agriculture office. In addition, fruit must be shipped with a federal certificate or limited permit on cartons and manifests.

The transport of Florida citrus also requires adherence to specific shipping temperatures and humidity levels and the use of reefer units. For Florida oranges, the optimal shipping temperature is 40 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity of 85% to 90%. Grapefruit is shipped at the same humidity level but at 42 to 46 degrees. Tangerines and tangelos are optimally shipped at 40 degrees and 90% to 95% humidity.

A 30-page International Fresh Produce Association report on transportation best practices includes a checklist for transportation and logistics providers that states that “transit temperatures, relative humidity, and atmospheric conditions must be specified on the contract of carriage, and in the absence of any agreement or clear instructions on temperature/humidity/atmospheric conditions, the shipper should be contacted to obtain the required transit temperature/humidity/atmospheric conditions.”  

Strategic Partnerships for Citrus Success

Throughout the best practices guide, continuous communication among all parties involved in the produce shipping process is stressed.

Communication is a key element to success,” the International Fresh Produce Association said. “Expectations and procedures need to be discussed and explained fully to all stakeholders across the supply chain. Everyone must be able to adhere to important details, such as standard temperatures and agreed time frames. These details must be communicated clearly up and down the supply chain.”

At VCPB Transportation, we understand the importance of communication, and we build strong partnerships with citrus shippers to ensure every shipment of fruit is delivered in prime condition every time.

VCPB Is a Master of Florida Citrus Transportation

We are produce transportation experts in every season and region of the country. We know that real-time tracking is of utmost importance when shipping citrus, and we monitor all shipments using our state-of-the-art tech stack.

At VCPB Transportation, we know the temperature, humidity, and handling requirements for all types of fruits and vegetables, and we customize solutions based on the unique attributes of different produce types. Our citrus shipping specialists also provide 24/7/365 service to quickly address any and all issues.

We focus on every detail of the citrus transportation process so shippers don’t have to.

  • We assess specific transportation needs.
  • Overcome all citrus transportation challenges.
  • Implement best practices for handling perishables.
  • Choose the best transportation methods to ensure flawless delivery every time.
  • Leverage advanced technology for real-time visibility of the fruit from pickup to delivery.

At VCPB Transportation, we also have the skills and resources to efficiently handle expedited shipments, cross-border movements, transloading, and over-the-road, intermodal, and overweight and oversized freight.

Start shipping with VCBP.

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