Mangoes are transported using various methods depending on distance, cost, and the need to maintain freshness, primarily involving refrigerated trucks, reefer containers, or air freight.
Here's a breakdown of the common transportation methods:
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Refrigerated Trucks: Often used for shorter distances, refrigerated trucks (also known as reefers) maintain a consistent temperature to prevent spoilage during transit. This is cost-effective for regional distribution.
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Reefer Containers: For longer distances, especially overseas, mangoes are shipped in reefer containers. These are specialized shipping containers with built-in refrigeration units that precisely control temperature and humidity, protecting the fruit throughout its journey.
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Air Freight: When speed is paramount, mangoes can be transported by air. This method is significantly faster but also more expensive, making it suitable for high-value mangoes or those destined for distant markets where timely delivery is crucial. This is important for maintaining quality of particularly delicate varieties.
The choice of transportation method depends on factors such as:
- Distance: Longer distances usually necessitate reefer containers or air freight.
- Cost: Road transport is usually more cost effective for shorter distances, where as sea freight is more cost effective for longer distances. Air freight is generally the most expensive.
- Ripeness: The stage of ripeness at harvest affects the shelf life and influences the transport method.
- Destination Market: The demand and price in the destination market affect the transport method.
- Infrastructure: availability of infrastructure, such as ports or airports, may restrict certain methods.
Proper handling and packaging are also crucial to minimize damage during transportation, irrespective of the mode used. This includes careful selection of mangoes at harvest, pre-cooling to reduce field heat, and using appropriate packaging materials to cushion the fruit and prevent bruising.
