Posts Tagged “feature”
LONG BEACH, CA – Carrier Transicold unveiled its revolutionary new zero-emission electric truck refrigeration technology today, demonstrating a path forward for refrigerated transporters who want to incorporate more sustainable systems into their fleets. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions.
The Supra® zero-emission demonstration unit was spotlighted at the Carrier Transicold booth at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo. Designed to provide maximum range and refrigeration capacities similar to those now only achieved by diesel-powered truck systems, the engineless Supra technology will be applied to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or to run autonomously with conventional engine-driven trucks. This will make it especially well-suited for businesses in California that must introduce zero-emissions truck refrigeration units into their fleets by the end of 2023 in compliance with proposed California Air Resources Board (CARB) requirements.
“Carrier Transicold has a solid record of developing industry-leading sustainable refrigeration technologies for the safe transport of perishable and frozen goods, and our new electric Supra concept builds on this legacy with its quiet emissions-free design,” said Scott Parker, Product Manager, Truck Products, Carrier Transicold.
“The Supra zero-emission design completely removes the diesel engine from the equation,” Parker said. “It takes advantage of many of the system design, performance and efficiency enhancements that we recently introduced with our diesel-powered Supra series platform. As we upgraded our Supra line, we had an eye on the future, anticipating that the road ahead would require more sustainable, zero-emission technologies.”
Like Carrier Transicold’s renowned Vector™ trailer refrigeration systems, the electric Supra unit uses E-Drive™ technology, a uniquely all-electric refrigeration architecture that couples efficient performance with reduced maintenance requirements.
Features and benefits of the Supra zero-emission design include:
- Efficient zero-emissions performance – Utilizing a direct-current electric power source, the unit eliminates fuel consumption, emissions and noise associated with engine-driven systems.
- Maximum Range and High Capacity – The unit is being designed for full-day’s use with refrigeration performance on par with conventional diesel systems.
- Reduced service requirements – E-Drive technology uses maintenance-free electric evaporator and condenser fans and a sealed electric compressor, eliminating many typical serviceable items, such as belts, pulleys and shaft seals.
- More environmentally sustainable refrigerant – Using R-452A, with a global warming potential (GWP) that is 45% lower than today’s standard refrigerant, the electric Supra would meet CARB’s pending requirement that new transport refrigeration units use refrigerants with a GWP lower than 2,200 beginning in 2023.
The electric Supra unit requires a direct-current power supply. In the case of a non-electric truck this can be a dedicated battery module, and in BEV applications the electric Supra unit can draw energy from the truck’s battery pack. Carrier’s propriety power-management technologies maximize refrigeration unit performance and battery life for daily delivery operations.
Full North American commercial availability is slated by 2023 so fleets can comply with CARB’s proposed deadline of Dec. 31, 2023 to convert 15% of their refrigerated trucks to zero-emission refrigeration technologies.
Carrier Transicold’s energy-efficient solutions are critical to Carrier’s progress toward achieving carbon neutral operations by 2030, as outlined in its ambitious Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Goals. The company is also aiming to reduce its customers’ carbon footprint by more than one gigaton.
The Supra electric truck refrigeration technology is part of Carrier’s Healthy, Safe, Sustainable Cold Chain Program to preserve and protect the supply of food, medicine and vaccines. Learn more at www.corporate.carrier.com/healthycoldchain.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature-controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 50 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. For more information, visit transicold.carrier.com. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain, on Facebook at Carrier Transicold Truck/Trailer U.S. & Canada and on LinkedIn at Carrier Transicold Truck Trailer Refrigeration.
Vick Family Farms of Wilson, NC is expected average volume shipments for sweet potatoes during it’s 2021-22 season, with harvest wrapping up in November just in time for the holidays.
In 2021, the company celebrated 25 years of packing and marketing its own brands.
The operation’s first packing facility was built in 1996 and it now owns and operates two packing sheds, as well as working with other local growers and sheds throughout the season.
Vick is experiencing a harvest being later than normal due to weather factors. This has resulted in potatoes not sizing up as quickly. However, being well into the harvest the company has been pleased with yields and quality.
With average yields, volume is expected to be similar to last year, thanks in part to some additional planted acreage.
North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission, noted the harvest began in early September. The grower organization anticipates the state’s acreage will be similar to last year and thus far sweet potato diggings are showing an excellent quality crop.
Between August 2020 and August 2021, NCDA reported a total of 11,971,868 40-pound cartons of fresh-market sweet potatoes being shipped. The state’s industry ships sweet potatoes 12 months a year.
The Louisiana Sweet Potato Commission is expecting good sweet potato shipments in 2021 as well — after growers dodged the bullet with Hurricane Ida.
GOURA HILLS, CA — Restaurants, delis, hotels, grocery stores, convenience stores now have a way to offer fresh cut sandwich set-ups that lasts up to 500 times longer with eatFresh-FC, a blend of organic minerals, fruit acids, and vitamins that prevent oxidation while controlling the growth of yeast, mold and coliform bacteria that can result from aging food.
In a 14-day test, sliced tomato, chopped onions and cut Romaine lettuce were treated with eatFresh-FC and held with no organoleptic change, while yeast, mold, and coliform bacteria remained well under the required threshold.
“It really is visually stunning to see the side by side next to the control in our testing. Having worked in the restaurant world for years, I know it’s cost-efficient and convenient way for food service companies to get strategic about their purchasing and prepping. Since eatFresh-FC can help those sandwich staples last so much longer, maybe you prep once or twice a week instead of everyday,” commented Mareya Ibrahim, Founder, and CEO, eatCleaner®. “As a company, we have been dedicated to food safety and freshness solutions for over a decade, and now, with the rise in popularity of fresh-cut produce, this is an organic, clean label solution that can help companies innovate new products and gain added distribution at a fraction of a penny per serving. And the flavor of eatFresh-FC leaves no aftertaste on the cut produce. As a chef, this was extremely important to me as I was developing the product with my father, an environmental scientist,” added Ibrahim.
The average shelf life for fresh-cut lettuce is 3-5 days and for tomatoes, it’s 2-3 days. eatFresh-FC can offer 500%+ additional shelf life, saving processors money and keeping food out of landfills. According to the USDA, about 83% of waste comes from homes, food service companies, retailers, and restaurants. eatFresh-FC can help eliminate millions of pounds of waste in the US alone annually.
Ibrahim added that she also developed an approach to packaging the tomatoes to help avoid damaging the slices. “Our customer was concerned that the treated slices would ‘bleed’ out and become mushy, so we created an approach and protocol to protect the tomatoes and deter damage. We love problem solving our customers and welcome the opportunity to think strategically with them,” noted Ibrahim.
eatFresh-FC can also be used in food preparations such as dips, sauces, and ready-to-eat products, thus extending the application of shelf life extension and sensory preservation to other food categories. It has been proven effective on a range of products, from coleslaw to hummus, sushi to chicken lettuce cups. Shelf-life extension of guacamole to 21 days, fruit bowls to 21 days, and apple slices to 26 days have all been proven by 3rd party labs. Also, no special equipment is required to use GGI’s patented solutions.
“Organic food waste and the billions of pounds that are thrown into landfills annually have a significant impact on the environment. As the industry pursues ways to prolong shelf life and offer ready-to-eat solutions for a growing audience desiring convenience, eatFresh-FC will play a critical role and fills a hole that has not been filled in the industry,” mentioned Dr. Shawki Ibrahim, co-inventor, GGI. “Aside from eatFresh-FC, we also produce eatFRESH-FCA, specifically designed for cut avocados and apples, and eatCleaner®, an organic way to cleanse produce and also extend shelf life up to 5x longer. Offering these consumer and commercial solutions will open up distribution channels and help utilize food more efficiently to help prevent hunger and waste,” added Ibrahim.
eatFresh-FC is available in a 3 oz. individual-use packet and in a bulk 50 lb. bag for food processors, retailers, and foodservice companies.
eatCleaner® offers a full line of patented, lab-proven, and organic products for home and foodservice use, including produce washes, wipes, and anti-browning products for cut produce, including avocados, apples, melons, and berries.
California citrus shipments for the 2021-22 season will be down due to the severe drought.
California Citrus Mutual report this season will definitely have a lower crop.
The USDA predicts there will be a 14% decline in its orange measurement survey from September and some observers feel this estimate may be understating the dip in crop production.
CCM believes there will still be plenty of citrus shipments, noting the smaller 2021-22 crop will be much more manageable for grower-shippers.
The 2020-21 navel crop lasted longer than usual because of a weaker export market. The 2021-22 navel season got underway the last half of October.
Multiple factors have led to a lighter crop load, Creamer said.
The depth of impacts on the water shortage and the drought vary from hardly any impact to very, very drastic impact, depending on where growers are located and their surface water rights and the location of their water district.
Mandarin output also is expected to be lower in 2021-22, while lemons may see increased volume. Seedless lemons represent a small but growing segment of the industry.
Based on early estimates, mandarin supplies could be as much as 50% lower compared with a year ago.
Mandarins are as much as 70% down on existing fruit-bearing trees, but that is partially offset by new bearing acreage coming on.
Roughly 75% of the California citrus crop is grown in the Central Valley, with some lemons and mandarins produced in the coastal regions. Lemons and grapefruit are primarily raised in the desert growing areas.
Excellent Peruvian onion imports are seen this season as the early crop is show exceptional quality. It may be the best crop in three decades.
Mild, sweet, large and round with flattened tops and bottoms, Peru’s sweet onions are typically available September through April, complementing the Vidalia, Ga., region’s trademarked Vidalia onions, usually shipped April through September.
However, G&R Farms of Glennville, GA reports shipping schedules may be a little behind last year because of delays with transportation and logistics.
Bland Farms of Glennville, GA, has a corporate office and onion farms in Ica, as well as more farms in Arequipa, Peru.
Shuman Farms of Reidsville, GA., began shipping RealSweet onions from Peru in early September. The company reports very good quality and sizing.
The grower/shipper has a full-time staff and infrastructure in Peru, where there was a recent update to the facility and packing house. The company installed new grading lines and sorting equipment to improve product quality and a more efficient final repack in Georgia after passing through the Port of Savannah.
Shipping lines are being urged to route more cargo to California’s Port of Oakland as a result of supply chain calamities elsewhere.
Port officials report its marine terminals are congestion-free, unlike competing ports crippled by record global trade volumes. It urged restoration of shipping services that have bypassed Oakland since summer.
The Oakland port notes there is no congestion and is ready for more business.
It wants ocean carriers to reinstate services in order to stabilize the supply chain, noting its import and export partners echo this sentiment.
The Port said containerized cargo volume is up 4.2 percent in 2021 but insisted there’s capacity for more as it hasn’t experienced vessel backlogs since August. That’s in stark contrast to Southern California ports where up to 70 ships daily wait at anchor for berth space.
Ports on the west, gulf and east coasts have reported crippling delays in moving cargo and the White House recently called on some facilities to open nights and weekends to move out cargo. However, the government’s response is reported to have minimal effect in easing port congestion.
Oakland said shipping lines can help ease the gridlock by steering ships back to Oakland. Several ocean carriers omitted Oakland in recent months, the Port said.
It explained that excessive Southern California delays necessitated immediate return of some ships to Asia without stopping in Oakland.
According to the Port, 54 vessels stopped in Oakland last month which was the lowest vessel call total since 2015. As a result, September import volume declined 13 percent from September 2020 and exports were down 18 percent.
It expects service restoration to begin next month as supply chain congestion continues and it said vessels would find clear sailing to berth without gridlock.
Import cargo would be available for pick-up within days of discharge from ships which hasn’t been the case at some ports where congestion has trapped import containers for weeks.
Jac. Vandenberg, Inc., the Tarrytown, NY-based fresh produce importer and marketer, is gearing up for a second year for its SUNRAYS® grape brand. After a successful debut, SUNRAYS® grapes is announcing several new developments to its 2021-2022 program which officially starts in November.
Kicking off the SUNRAYS® grape season this year will be Cotton Candy grapes packed out of Brazil, available in loose-weight bags and 1-pound clamshells.
Brazil will also become the fifth sourcing region for the SUNRAYS grape program which already has Peru, Chile, Mexico and California growers participating. As with last season, Vandenberg has carefully selected its growing partners to participate in the SUNRAYS grape program ensuring those participating growers meet strict quality and flavor requirements.
SUNRAYS® grapes are available year-round from Brazil, Peru, Chile, Mexico and California.
Another major development for the SUNRAYS grape program this year will be a limited offering of its brand new, innovative BIO bags out of Peru. These bags will be the first biodegradable, home compostable grape bags in the US market.
“Sustainability has always been at the core of the SUNRAYS® brand and we want to now make that message clear and transparent to the public with this certification,” says Paap. “What’s unique about this certification is not only is it looking at environmental sustainability but also social and economic sustainability. All of these areas play an important role in the success and longevity of the farm and product.”
Vandenberg expects to see its first growers certified early next year with SUNRAYS® bags carrying the Sustainably Grown certification by November 2022.
ATHENS, GA – Carrier Transicold has raised the bar for electric auxiliary power unit (APU) performance with its new lithium-ion ComfortPro® electric model that delivers double the air conditioning runtime provided by some competitive conventional battery-powered APUs. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions.
“The new ComfortPro model is the first electric APU capable of providing cab cooling for extended periods formerly only achieved by diesel-powered units, thanks to its extended-capacity lithium-ion batteries and proprietary embedded power management system,” said Ryan Rubly, product manager, power management systems, Truck Trailer Americas, Carrier Transicold.
Carrier Transicold will feature the lithium-ion ComfortPro APU among other electric technologies at the Advanced Clean Technologies Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center this month (booth 547).
Key differentiators of the new APU:
- 7,500 BTU/hours of cab cooling that can double the runtime provided by some competitive absorbent glass mat (AGM) battery powered electric APUs, delivering continuous air conditioning that extends well beyond what is required for overnight rest breaks and up to 17 hours under certain real-world conditions.
- Quiet, emissions-free performance with relatively few moving parts, eliminating the maintenance required of diesel-powered APUs.
- Advanced lithium-ion technology, engineered specifically for long-haul commercial vehicle applications, provides an extremely power-dense and durable solution, charging faster with less performance degradation over time compared to conventional AGM batteries.
- Five-year lithium-ion battery warranty,providing more than twice the typical lifespan of AGM batteries and outlasting the truck trade cycle for many fleets.
- Reduced APU weight by 26% using two DOT-certified lithium-ion batteriescompared to Carrier Transicold’s standard electric APU, which uses four AGM batteries.
- Lower cost of ownership than other APU alternatives thanks to its long-lifebatteries coupled with fuel savings and minimal maintenance requirements.
All ComfortPro electric APUs include a power plant, an under bunk climate control unit and a programmable control panel, featuring Carrier Transicold’s exclusive Cabin Pre-Cool Lock that helps extend battery life by assuring the preferred cabin temperature is attained before the APU takes over. Available options add heating, power for hotel loads, shore power connectivity and truck engine preheating, so fleets and owner-operators can customize ComfortPro electric APUs to suit specific needs.
APUs are used by the trucking industry to support cab climate control when the vehicle is stationary during driver rest periods, saving fuel, reducing engine idling and wear along with related emissions and providing regulatory compliance. The comfort and conveniences provided by APUs also help fleets with driver retention.
For additional details about Carrier Transicold’s complete line of APUs, turn to the experts in Carrier Transicold’s North America dealer network.
About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature-controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 50 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. For more information, visit transicold.carrier.com. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain, on Facebook at Carrier Transicold Truck/Trailer U.S. & Canada and on LinkedIn at Carrier Transicold Truck Trailer Refrigeration.
By Steve Hull, ALC Portland
2021 continues to be a challenging year for so many. Those of us in the logistics world have been working long hours and dealing with unprecedented upheaval in the transportation space. We know, from our discussions with so many of our shipper and carrier clients that you all are working just as hard. We’ve all been missing out on chances to get together and collaborate in person during this time. We’ve missed out on attending some produce-focused trade shows in person, including the United Fresh convention and Expo along with PMA Fresh Summit. Those in-person opportunities that we once maybe took for granted are something very special. One of the things missed was the opportunity to talk about and ask for help with one of Allen Lund Company’s core Acts of Kindness, Navidad en el Barrio.
Since 2004, the Allen Lund Company has been offering assistance including freight shipments to Navidad en el Barrio. First established in the 1970s by former LA Ram’s kicker Danny Villanueva, the non-profit collects money and food for the underserved Hispanic communities in Southern California. ALC first assisted with the transportation of groceries that were included in food bags that are distributed to every family. In the early days, those food bags did not contain any perishable food items, such as fresh produce. Recognizing the strong relationships that ALC has with the growers in California, Navidad en el Barrio asked ALC to help make those food bags much more nutritious. Beginning in 2006, fresh fruits and vegetables became a consistent part of each food bag.
Critically during this pandemic, the need for assistance is as high as ever. Navidad will provide meals to approximately 10,000 families this year! We are asking for any growers/importers/suppliers who are looking to step up and make a difference in the lives of so many deserving families in Southern California by making donations of nutritious perishable foods. In the past, through the generosity of companies such as Rainier Fruit, Wada Farms, Grimmway Farms, Wonderful Citrus, Mission Foods, and Coca-Cola, we’ve been able to help provide fresh fruits, potatoes, carrots, avocados, bottled water, and juices as well as many other available seasonal products for the food bags.
Since we didn’t get the chance to ask you in person this year, we are asking now virtually. We need your help! Christmas is fast approaching, and we are currently working on lining up donations for the 2021 distribution that will take place in early December. Please, reach out to either me at steve.hull@allenlund.com, or ALC Marketing & Communications Director Nora Trueblood at nora.trueblood@allenlund.com if your business can help. We appreciate your participation.
The harvest of new the Medjool crop started during the first couple weeks of September and trees were carrying loaded with fruit. Double Date Packing of Coachella, CA had a smaller crop last year, but is expecting a big crop for 2021-22.
Over 50 percent of the date crop is exported.
SunDate, also in Coachella, agrees noting the first date groves looks like a good crop. The company was in heavy harvest by the week of September 6th. Once the dates are harvested, they are graded stored for a few weeks to find out how good the crop is.
The Medjool variety will be harvested until about the end of October with the Deglet Nour dates picked during the last two months of the year.
Picking those dates is still a sight to behold. Though for safety reasons, packers often use automated “cherry pickers” with platforms to perform the many hand tasks needed in the life of a date (from pollination to thinning to picking), there are still many traditional pickers in the Coachella Valley that climb the trees the old-fashioned way and perform the cultural tasks 50-75 feet above ground as they cling to the tree.