One of the modern marvels of living in the United States is that we can sit down at the holidays and share meals of fresh food from across the country with menus featuring everything from Virginia hams to Maine lobsters to Wisconsin cheese to California vegetables to Florida fruit to Texas beef.
“Fresh – It’s the ideal way to consume food. The fresher the food, the more nutritious it is, which can lead to plenty of benefits: more energy, healthy blood pressure, a stronger immune system, improved organ function, healthy teeth, bones, digestive system, and much more. Oh, and it tastes better!” says Stearns Bank. “Thanks to the innovations of agriculture, foraging for our next meal is not a necessity – instead, we generally have a variety of meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables at our disposal.”
One of those innovations is improvements in cold storage that plays a vital role in keeping U.S. agriculture products from spoiling before it gets to the table.
“What makes all this possible in a vast country such as the US is the modern and efficient cold storage and cold chain transport system that is in place in our country,” says Hanzo Logistics.
We may take it for granted, or not even think about it, but cold storage is the link in the food supply chain that keeps us fed.
“Cold storage, also known as cold stores, cold chain, or large refrigerated warehouses, keeps fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meats at the correct temperature to prevent waste and deliver safe products to consumers,” says Hanzo Logistics.
Cold storage and cold chain may be used sometimes as interchangeable terms but there is a difference between the two.
Cold storage refers to a storage facility, usually a large warehouse, that can be climate controlled so that perishable goods such as dairy, frozen food, fresh produce, meats, and more can be stored to extend their life.
Advances in insulated metal walls and roof panels help these cold storage facilities, from warehouses to walk-in coolers, achieve high levels of thermal efficiency.
“Food products that require refrigeration or spoil quickly need this temperature control so that they can be stored after harvest or manufacturing and can be supplied throughout the year even at times of no production output,” says Hanzo Logistics. “This not only ensures that we get our favorite fresh fruits and vegetables even when they are out of season as well as prevents huge economic losses to the producers due to spoilage of their produce.”
Cold chain, on the other hand, refers to all the steps and stops along the supply chain that keeps food fresh in temperature-controlled conditions.
The cold chain can include:
Another way to look at this temperature-controlled supply chain is to examine how items are kept cold from point of manufacture or creation to the end user. These elements can include:
“It is the entire network of these temperature-controlled facilities that make it possible for the food and agriculture industry to be so efficient in the US whether it is fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, or processed food products,” said Hanzo Logistics. “Cold chain facilities are also used for other commodities such as medicines, flowers, live plants, and even artwork.”
The U.S. agriculture industry benefits in many ways from modern cold storage and the cold chain, including:
“A strong food supply chain ensures that consumer food demands are met. Cold storage, in any capacity, ensures that as little goes to waste as possible every step of the way. Cold storage fits into the equation nearly everywhere,” says Stearns Bank. “As technology improves, this innovative industry keeps pace, answering developing demands with improved logistics and more sustainable approaches.”