By Antonino Ferraiolo, Reefer Specialist at MSC
Recently, I hosted a dinner party at home with friends.
As we sat around the table, laughing, chatting and enjoying dishes of delicious fresh food, some of my guests started asking me questions:
“Antonino, where does this avocado come from?”
“What about the tomatoes?”
“How do they get here?”
I’ve noticed that these questions are reflective of a growing trend — more and more people want to know where their food comes from (and how it gets there).
As I reflected on these questions, it made me think of the critical role that shipping plays in helping the world enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables all year round.
Considering that The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that one-third of food produced for human consumption worldwide is lost annually in the process of getting food from the farms to consumption, it’s critical that we continue to innovate and deliver the best reefer shipping solutions around.
AN INTRODUCTION TO REEFER
My name is Antonino Ferraiolo and I’m a global reefer specialist for MSC, a global leader in container shipping and logistics. I advise, support and assist MSC reefer experts across the globe. Our goal is to transport fresh produce all across the world, in perfect condition, every time.
Refrigerated containers (known as ‘reefer’) are continuously-powered, temperature-controlled containers that keep perishable products and temperature-sensitive cargo fresh for the entire journey — from truck, to train, to barge, to ship and every step in between.
They’re how we keep food safe and in top quality over long distances.
Shipping over 1.8 million reefer containers in 2019 alone, MSC is a leader in refrigerated cargo transportation and as such, the company continuously invests in the best technologies.
INVESTING TO MEET DEMAND
The global demand for fresh fruit has been growing at an average of 3.6% p.a since 2011. In 2017, it reached a total volume of 80.11M tonnes.
To put it in perspective, this is just as much as the annual global egg consumption over the same period.
As demand for fresh produce increases, we must continue to innovate and offer the best possible solutions in reefer cargo transportation. Fortunately, that’s what MSC is doing.
After setting records with a 2018 order of 5,000 Carrier Transicold PrimeLINE® reefer containers (each equipped with the XtendFRESH™ controlled atmosphere system) and 2,000 Carrier Transicold containers, chilled by an innovative, sustainable, natural refrigerant-based NaturaLINE® refrigeration system, we’ve now taken the next step in expanding our fleet.
Our new addition — more than 5,000 new Star Cool Controlled Atmosphere (CA) reefer units — add a new dimension to our reefer shipping abilities.
But what makes these Star Cool CA reefer units so special?
INSIDE THE STAR COOL CA UNITS
After conducting a three-year trial of 2,500 Star Cool CA integrated units on closed services and dedicated service routes (mainly carrying fresh produce in chilled and controlled atmosphere modes) we decided that they would be perfect for our fleet.
Compared to conventional reefer containers, the Star Cool CA refrigeration unit is integrated directly into the container. The result is a lighter, greater-capacity and more energy-efficient reefer container that comes without any loss of strength or reliability.
Simple, effective, and with low energy consumption, Star Cool CA allows us to independently regulate the O2 and CO2 levels to slow down the ripening process and keep fruit fresher for longer. It’s especially useful for perishable produce that requires independent control of O2 and CO2 like stone fruit, apple, avocado, blueberries, lettuce and persimmon.
And as part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, we’ve also opted to install ‘StarConomy’ control software on our entire Star Cool fleet, which will deliver a further 50% reduction in energy consumption!
OPENING UP NEW OPPORTUNITIES
As the demand for fresh produce continues to grow, I’m happy to say that MSC is committed to continually investing in reefer transportation.
We also work closely with local growers, farmers and producers to understand their specific needs in order to bring them tailor-made services. That’s the part of my job that I enjoy the most: connecting fruit shippers to the rest of the word and opening up new possibilities for them to grow their businesses.
Ultimately, it’s all about helping everyone enjoy delicious, fresh produce, all year round.
If you’re a professional of the fruit sector, and you’d like to learn more about reefer shipping, you can contact us to book your MSC Reefer MasterClass. Led by representatives across the whole supply chain, it’s your opportunity to see real-life demonstrations of how a reefer container operates and get valuable insights into the whole reefer process. The MSC Reefer MasterClass can be organised anywhere in the world. Contact us to learn more.
Find out more about MSC Reefer Cargo services here.
Get in contact with a member of our dedicated reefer team, who will be able to assist with all reefer enquiries and bookings.
