An analysis of temperature breaks in the summer fruit export cold chain from pack house to vessel
Date
2013-12
Authors
Haasbroek, Laura Marchand
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is great concern in the fruit industry that too much fruit and money is lost each year
due to breaks occurring in the export cold chain of fresh fruit. Therefore, the CSIR (Council
for Scientific and Industrial Research) and Stellenbosch University were approached to do
research on this problem. This particular study focuses on the cold chains of table grapes,
summer pears and plums as these fruit are especially sensitive to temperature.
Observations were made on fruit farms, in pack houses, in cold stores as well as in the Port
of Cape Town. From these observations it was clear that protocols are not always followed
and fruit quality is sometimes neglected because of pressure to speed up the exporting
process. In order to analyse the export cold chains of these fruit types, temperature trials
were conducted and temperature data received from exporting companies was analysed.
The data was analysed from the cold store up to the point where the vessel sailed out of the
Port of Cape Town. From the analysis it became clear that too many cold chain breaks occur
during fruit exports from South Africa, especially during the loading of containers at cold
stores.
As a final output to the study, a good cold chain practice guide for the export of table grapes
was developed with the aim of assisting the fruit industry in minimizing these cold chain
breaks. The guide was developed with simplicity to ensure easy understanding under all
role-players in the industry.
This study was a small step in the right direction, but it should be highlighted that the
complexity of the problems in the fruit cold chains are substantial and further research will
have to be done in order to eliminate the occurrence of these cold chain breaks.
Description
Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
Keywords
Cold chain, Cold starage -- South Africa, Temperature breaks, Dissertations -- Logistics, Theses -- Logistics, Fruit -- Transportation -- South Africa, Refrigerated transport -- South Africa