Original Research
Detecting temperature breaks in the initial stages of the citrus export cold chain: A case study
Submitted: 09 July 2022 | Published: 13 December 2022
About the author(s)
Christoff A. Conradie, Department of Logistics, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South AfricaLeila L. Goedhals-Gerber, Department of Logistics, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Frances E. van Dyk, Department of Logistics, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Abstract
Background: Fruit is an important export commodity for South Africa and accounts for 35% of its agricultural exports. South Africa is the second largest citrus exporter in the world, behind Spain. Maintaining the postharvest cold chain is key to ensuring that fruit quality meets export standards.
Objectives: The main objectives of this research were to investigate the frequency, location, magnitude and duration of temperature deviations in the South African leg of the clementine and navel orange cold chain.
Method: Temperature trials were conducted on two consignments of clementines and two consignments of navels. Each consignment contained 36 iButtons®, of which 18 measured pulp temperature and 18 measured ambient temperature. Data were successfully retrieved from 130 of the 144 iButtons®.
Results: This research identified areas where the temperature went outside the prescribed range along the South African portion of the export cold chain of navel oranges and clementines from Citrusdal, South Africa to the Port of Newark, United States of America.
Conclusion: The temperature incidents identified could result in a breach of the cold sterilisation (steri) protocols and quality defects. Recommendations were made to address these deficiencies to improve the South African citrus industry’s global competitiveness.
Contribution: This research allowed the citrus industry to investigate and adjust current cold chain practices to improve the integrity of the entire export cold chain, potentially resulting in a higher quality product and increased revenue.
Keywords
Metrics
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Crossref Citations
1. Market Diversification and Competitiveness of Fresh Grape Exports in Peru
Jose Carlos Montes Ninaquispe, Kelly Cristina Vasquez Huatay, Diego Alejandro Ludeña Jugo, Alberto Luis Pantaleón Santa María, Juan César Farías Rodríguez, Fernando Suárez Santa Cruz, Erik Omar Escalona Aguilar, Marco Agustín Arbulú-Ballesteros
Sustainability vol: 16 issue: 6 first page: 2528 year: 2024
doi: 10.3390/su16062528