The Cool Chain Association plans to draft a serious exercise handle procedure for perishable base on a serial of trials tracking perishable exports from farm to table or vase undertaken by CCA partner the Perishable Products Export Control Board ( PPECB ) .
A PPECB pilot run monitoring cut flower exportation from South Africa to Europe traveling last calendar month has already highlighted the impingement of temperature jaunt on vase life , grant to Vijan Chetty , CCA Board Member and General Manager , PPECB .
The trial was conducted in collaboration with Arnelia Farms , a South African sweeping flower nursery and exporter , and get across Sunshine Conebush flower consignment load down on - farm near Hopefield in the Western Cape responsibility of South Africa and traveling to address in the Netherlands and Germany .
“ Trials over the preceding few years have focused primarily on the final international mile of a specific deal lane , ” read Chetty , speak at the Air Cargo Africa Event in Johannesburg , South Africa , last workweek .
“ We will be looking at farm to board or vase across a swap lane , and not only center on monitoring the temperature of the merchandise , but also aiming to name all surface area where shelf life could be influenced , admit , for example , post - harvest practices , packaging and palletization , and the functionality of cold storage . ”
CCA , which of late signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU ) with the PPECB , will be reviewing the inquiry trials , analyzing the bodily function of stakeholder within the value chain , and identifying potential risk area , to draft a best practice handle procedure for perishable product .
“ The handling process can be used to school faculty to mitigate risks and increase the vase life story of flowers and the shelf life of other perishables , ” said Chetty .
“ The CCA is looking for implementable solution that the industry can easily initiate . ”
The PPECB pilot trial used line temperature logger on two consignments charge two days aside to supervise variations in moth-eaten mountain chain status .
flush consignments were pack in box seat and palletized on - farm then dilute on a refrigerated motortruck before taking a two - hour journeying to the courier inspection and repair supplier .
The consignments were export the next day to Europe .
Results showed that mean temperatures hit 10.4 ° c and 9.3 ° c for the two shipment , well higher than the 5 ° coulomb recommended for cut flush .
Although the flowers arrived in acceptable condition , vase life will have been affected by this temperature excursion .
“ Quality treatment practices and cool chain management are an integrated outgrowth that can not be reviewed in isolation , and this trial already shows that post - harvest treatment and the first mile of every mathematical product plays an important purpose in make up one’s mind a ware ’s quality , ” say Chetty .
“ next PPECB trial run will also let in a focus on the final nautical mile of the product from when the consumer makes the leverage and takes it home . ”
PPECB will now guarantee trials to admit other fast - moving perishable item , such as berries , and will move on to compare the cool range of mountains , shelf life , and quality of commodities go by air versus sea .
“ CCA phallus are focused on collaborating to find real ways of ameliorate the character of the temperature - assure supply chain , ” said Stavros Evangelakakis , CCA Chair and Head of Global Healthcare , Cargolux .
“ By working with the PPECB on the answer of their trial , we can go one step further in help the industry to thin perishable waste . ”
CCA ’s recent initiatives include the establishment of a Technical Committee to drive projects which will benefit the cool supply chain , including a Risk Management project and a trial of a new perishables label .
The PPECB provides for the control of perishable products signify for export from the Republic of South Africa and has its own in - mansion research department , analyse quality and solid food safety standards .
For more info : Cool Chain Associationcoolchain.org
