Browsing by Author "Steynberg, Daniël Petrus (Petré)"

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    A temperature profile of the beginning stages of a blueberry supply chain
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Steynberg, Daniël Petrus (Petré); Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : Due to the changing lifestyle choices of the modern-day consumer, the demand for blueberries has risen significantly in recent years. Exporters of blueberries are losing money linked to lower quality fruit arriving at their final destination. Studies have proven that various factors could play a role in the decrease in fruit quality, especially in the initial stages of a supply chain. These factors include the geographical location of the farms, different methods of loading, unloading and transportation on and from farms to the centralised cold storage facility, and the trade-off between the time of picking and fruit quality. The objective of this research was to identify whether the different logistics processes implemented, specifically in the beginning stages of the blueberry supply chain, have an influence on the quality of the fruit. Through mapping and tracking of the blueberry temperature profiles, the researcher was able to identify where temperature breaks occurred. Furthermore, the research determined whether the current logistics processes implemented by Company X are the most effective, and if not, what should be improved. The study followed a deductive research approach and utilised a case study research strategy. It used a mixed-method research approach by collecting quantitative and qualitative data. Semi-structured interviews, informal observations and questionnaires were used in the study. iButtons® were used on all the farms to record ambient temperatures experienced by blueberries throughout the beginning stages of the blueberry supply chain. Temperature trials were conducted on three farms in Gauteng and three farms in the Western Cape. Various temperature fluctuations were recorded during the beginning stages of the blueberry supply chain. This could have been avoided if protocols were followed more strictly. The lack of controlled humidity could also be a contributing factor to the loss of moisture identified in the quality reports. The long average time spent during the Harvest and Transportation stage was identified as something that needs to be improved upon. In addition, the insufficient pre-cooling and lack of separate refrigerated rooms in the cold rooms on the farms in the Western Cape were identified as an area of concern. Lastly, decreasing the number of temperature fluctuations during the Forced Cooling stage should be a priority. In conclusion, the research highlighted problem areas within the beginning stages of a blueberry supply chain. Furthermore, it identified the best performing candidates during each stage, which should be used as a benchmark by Company X. By minimizing the breach of protocols and improving the beginning stages of the blueberry supply chain, a better-quality product is ensured, thus, reducing costs and food wastage.