Growing demand for cold treatment of perishables

Cold treatment of
perishables is a growing
trend, according to Graham
Schrieder, southern Africa
reefer sales manager of
Maersk Line.
And this was particularly
evident during the citrus
season starting around May
this year.
“We expect this to
continue till the end of the
season at least and attribute
it to the growing demand in
markets such as China for
cold treatment perishables,”
he told FTW.
Cold treatment is a
temperature treatment
process which involves
lowering the fruit pulp
temperature to a specified
level and maintaining
it for a specified time
period. Reefer equipment
is specifically fitted with
temperature probes to allow
the continious monitoring
of the fruit temperature
throughout the supply
chain.
By applying cold
treatment exporters can
exterminate insects and
larvae such as the fruit
f ly. It fulfils quarantine
requirements established
by countries’ phytosanitary
authorities.
According to Schrieder,
as the volumes of perishable
fruit from South Africa
increase and lines upgrade
their services to cater for the
demand, increased reefer
capabilities will be available
on the vessels travelling
between these regions to
support cold treatment.
Only reefer containers
that have been approved can
be used for the carriage of
this specially treated cargo.