"Quality does not need to be wasted during transport”

Logistics have a major influence on the value of flowers at the destination and in consumers' hands, and updated technologies can modify the future of the industry. To provide scientific-based proof, Vacuum Cooling Colombia SAS is setting up a new Research and Development Centre in Funza, which shall be finished by mid-July, this is explained by Vacuum Cooling Colombia's Mauricio Gleiser.   

"There is too much value to gain and save for the consumers (or lose, for everybody in the supply chain) in whichever the chosen mode of transportation of flowers, reason why consolidation centers were built for multimodal applications," he says.
  
Last Mothers' Day, for example, they helped the industry to solve a severe bottleneck; the US demand increased to unprecedented levels while the air cargo capacity, especially out of MDE, proved short, much delayed, and expensive. In turn, it was blocking several million stems to make it on time.
  
They provided the means to consolidate all kinds of flowers, such as chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, and bouquets, at a wide range of temperatures and from 30 farms, in facilities in Rionegro. "Flowers were x-ray scanned, grouped according to their different house bills, vacuum cooled, and trucked in reefers to the more enabled Airlines in Bogota."

Click here for the enlargement and more pictures.

"As seen in the many pictures in the link above (before and after Vacuum Cooling, in ºC, and a label denoting whom to thank), it is quite easy to notice the differences and realize how praiseworthy, in various ways: value, opportunity, and costs wise were such interventions."
   
"Very seldom do importers, wholesalers, or retailers have the time to perform vase life checks on holidays when it counts for much more since consumers will and also buy again, based on that single experience," he continues. 
  
At the new 1,000 square meter facility that they are building, they shall simulate long transit times, fumigation at origin, and other innovative techniques regarding the transportation of all kinds of flowers and culinary herbs. "We shall perform shelf and vase life tests using scientific protocols."