Reefer Set Points by Product: Why One Temperature Does Not Fit All

Unitra Foods · Trade insights

Mixed loads are possible, but only if the products share a temperature band.

A reefer container holds one set point. Put strawberries and sweet potatoes in the same box and one of them arrives damaged. Understanding temperature bands is the difference between a mixed load that works and one that does not.

Three bands

0–2 °C — berries, brassicas, leeks, carrots, apples. Chilling-tolerant, high respiration; keep cold and dry.
7–10 °C — sweet peppers, green beans, citrus. Chilling-sensitive; below 7 °C they pit and blacken.
12–15 °C — sweet potatoes, potatoes for some markets. Cold damages them and converts starch to sugar.

Mixing within a band

Apples and brassicas travel together. Peppers and citrus travel together. Berries and peppers do not. We plan mixed containers around these bands and mark the set point on the booking so there is no argument at the port.

Ethylene

Apples and citrus produce ethylene; leafy brassicas and beans are damaged by it. Even inside the right temperature band, some pairings need separate containers.