What temperature should I use?

It depends on the fruit and variety. Confirm the setpoint with a post-harvest specialist or the supplier's technical team for your exact product.

Can air freight replace reefers?

For small, high-value lots, air can work. It costs much more per kilo and has its own handling requirements.

Who is responsible for temperature?

That depends on the Incoterm and contract. Define it explicitly.

Cold Chain for Tropical Fruit: Reefers from Ecuador

A reliable cold chain for tropical fruit means harvesting at the right maturity, cooling quickly, loading into a pre-cooled reefer container set to the temperature the specific fruit tolerates, and logging temperature throughout. Many tropical fruits are chill-sensitive, so the correct setpoint differs by product and must not be assumed.

6 min read · 2026-10-08

Where quality is won or lost

Most shelf-life problems begin before the port: harvest at the wrong maturity, delay in the field, or poor cooling after packing. The time between picking and cooling is critical. Ask how and where the fruit is cooled, and how long it waits.

Reefer containers

A refrigerated container maintains temperature but is not designed to cool warm fruit. It should be pre-cooled and loaded with cold product, with air circulation preserved through correct stacking. Many shippers also set ventilation or controlled-atmosphere options depending on the fruit and route.

Chill sensitivity

Some tropical fruits suffer chilling injury if kept too cold, while others need low temperatures to slow ripening. Never copy a setpoint from another fruit. Agree the temperature and ventilation settings per product with technical advice from the supplier or a post-harvest specialist.

Monitoring and records

Request a temperature data logger or the reefer's download so you can see what happened in transit. Decide in the contract what temperature deviations trigger a claim and who bears the risk, linked to the Incoterm. See Incoterms for fruit exports.

Contingency planning

Ask what happens in case of reefer failure, port delay or a missed connection. Insurance, alternative routing and an agreed inspection procedure should be defined before shipping, not after problems appear.

Buyer checklist

Maturity stage at harvest specified
Pre-cooling method and time confirmed
Reefer pre-cooled and checked before loading
Setpoint, ventilation and humidity agreed per product
Data logger or reefer download provided
Claim procedure and insurance in place