While modern shipping methods are much, much faster than they were even a few decades ago, it can still be difficult to ship foods that need to arrive at their destination fresh. This is particularly true for things like seafood. How can you guarantee fresh seafood delivery? The answer is to use the right supplies and to use the right shipping service. What supplies are needed for fresh seafood delivery?
Temperature Control
One of the most important considerations for shipping fresh seafood out of town is ensuring proper temperature control. In most cases, this will require using dry ice or a gel pack in the package to keep the seafood at the proper temperature. However, in some cases, a refrigerated truck can do the same job. With that being said, the temperature-controlled packaging is generally the better option, as it allows greater flexibility in terms of shipment methods.
There are other options, as well. For instance, FedEx offers a cold shipping package that includes a one-time-use chilling unit. You activate the unit when you place it in the package, and it evaporates small amounts of water continuously to keep your shipment at the proper temperature. Units operate for either 48 hours or 96 hours depending on their size and configuration.
Packaging
The packaging itself is also important. The seafood should be packaged in an airtight plastic bag, as should the dry ice. Both the seafood and the dry ice should be packaged in a sturdy box capable of holding both the cooling element and the food itself. Note that the package should be strong enough to prevent damage from occurring to the food or the ice/cooling unit within the package.
Service
Finally, you need to ensure that you’re working with the right service to ensure fresh seafood delivery. Both FedEx and UPS offer expedited shipping that works well to keep seafood fresh when packaged correctly. Of course, larger shipments might not work with these carriers. For those, a company like Southwest Cargo can offer solutions designed to keep large orders of seafood fresh during shipment.
These are just a few of the things that go into ensuring fresh seafood delivery. The most important thing is to work with the right seller – they will have a good understanding of the supplies and products needed to keep their seafood fresh and be able to use the right shipping service to get your order to you on time.