Speaker: Prof Leila Goedhals-Gerber (Department of Logistics)

Title: Identifying temperature breaks along South African export cold chains

Abstract: Research shows that significant volumes of food produced globally is wasted due to supply chain failures from farm to retail. In addition, the category of fruits, vegetables, roots and tubers has the highest loss and wastage rate of any food per annum. Temperature has the greatest influence on fresh-produce deterioration rates and potential market life. Temperature breaks that occur in the cold chain result in financial losses due to quality loss issues and deviation from export protocols as well as a loss in market opportunity. Research has confirmed previously suspected areas along the cold chain prone to temperature breaks as well as identified new, previously unsuspected areas. The results of temperature trials conducted show that a larger number of temperature breaks occur along the export cold chain than were initially anticipated. Areas where palletized fruit gained heat unknowingly have been identified and their impacts have been shown to have far reaching and long-lasting, detrimental effects.  The position within the pallet where the temperature breaks occur have highlighted an issue of heat retention as a result of unintentional oversights during the initial stages of the cold chain. The research has identified areas for possible improvement, due to the initial unintentional oversights, where management could mitigate factors that influence decay. The research benefits the South African fruit industry by identifying the need for continuous improvement of the cold chain, which would assist in minimising temperature breaks.  In addition, the research has also highlighted possible areas for further investigation.

Keywords: Cold chain, fresh fruit exports, South Africa, temperature, temperature breaks