The care and preparation needed to ensure produce makes it from the fields to your shelves in tip-top shape requires an intricate partnership between farmer and retailer. And nowhere is this more apparent than in the berry industry. Well•Pict Berries products are fussed over from the very beginning, so every link in the chain that begins with a blossom and ends with a bowl of berries is strategically accounted for, planned, and executed. In other words, when it comes to getting consumers superior “Flavor First” berries, Well•Pict is not messing around. The all-important chain we’re referring to is none other than the cold chain. Whether this is your first time reading up on it, or you simply need a quick review as berry season enters full swing, this helpful post should give you everything you need. And if you want even more, check out the “Maintaining the Cold Chain” video. It’s part of our signature Well•Pict Berry Academy curriculum!
You are a key link in the cold chain. Without the commitment of the retailer, the process collapses before the berries have a chance to make it to your shoppers’ tables in ideal condition. Maintaining the cold chain means the difference between a crisp, perfect (and perfectly ripe) gem of a berry and one that has begun to break down—making it a target for bruising and quickly ticking down the period of freshness. Well•Pict berries are kept at a perfect thirty-three degrees Fahrenheit from storage to store. In the peak heat of summer, even a one-hour break from this heavily researched and tested temperature can decrease the amount of time berries will last in the store by up to a full day. We strongly encourage all Well•Pict retailers to keep both strawberries and raspberries in a refrigerated display case in your produce section.
