Transport and logistics for perishable produce

For perishable produce, the sale is won or lost on the road. Poorly organised transport, and the goods arrive damaged — even unsellable — while post-harvest losses already reach 40 to 50% of fruits and vegetables in Africa. Mastering transport and logistics directly protects your income. Here’s how.

Why transport is so critical

Heat, knocks, delays, overpacking: every hour and every bump degrades fresh produce. Difficult roads, cold-chain breaks and rough handling turn a fine harvest into losses. Logistics isn’t a detail — it’s often the link that decides your margin.

Best practices

• Cool before leaving: produce loaded in full heat spoils fast. Harvest early, keep in the shade, and transport during the cool hours (early morning, evening, at night).
• Protect during the trip: ventilated, stackable crates rather than crammed sacks; secure the load to avoid knocks; a tarp to shield from sun and rain while letting air circulate.
• Go fast and direct: the shorter the trip, the fewer the losses. Plan the route and limit handling breaks.
• Pool costs: grouping shipments between producers (sharing a truck) sharply cuts the cost per kilo and makes cooling more affordable.
• Use cold when justified: for very fragile goods or export, refrigerated transport (or passive cooling solutions) secures quality.

Organising your logistics, step by step

1. Plan before harvesting: know where, when and how the goods will leave.
2. Choose the right carrier: reliability, vehicle condition and on-time delivery matter as much as price.
3. Pack for the journey: sturdy packaging, secured load, labelled parcels.
4. Coordinate with the buyer: delivering at the right time avoids waiting (and spoilage) on arrival.

Costly mistakes

• Transporting in full heat, with no sun protection.
• Cramming into sacks: crushing and fermentation.
• Setting off alone with a half-load: prohibitive cost per kilo (think grouping).
• Not warning the buyer: the goods wait and degrade.

Frequently asked questions

Do you always need a refrigerated truck?

Not always: for short trips, harvesting in the cool, shielding from the sun and going fast often suffices. Cold becomes essential for very fragile goods and export.

How can I cut transport costs?

Grouping between producers: sharing a vehicle slashes the cost per kilo and makes cooling solutions more affordable.

What’s the best time to transport?

During the cool hours: early morning, evening or at night, to limit heat-related degradation.

Going further

Logistics extends all the work done in the field — don’t neglect it. Combine it with good post-harvest loss reduction practices. To sell fast, publish your products on Jangolo.