Global Produce Leaders Push for More Reliable Shipping to Reduce Waste and Protect Fresh Supply
The Global Coalition of Fresh Produce is advancing a voluntary Charter of Good Shipping Practices aimed at improving transportation reliability, reducing food waste and strengthening relationships throughout the international fresh produce supply chain.
The initiative follows a recent industry discussion at Asia Fruit Logistica, where growers, exporters, importers, logistics providers and produce industry organizations examined ongoing challenges involving shipping schedules, transportation costs, cargo handling and the movement of perishable products.
The coalition said geopolitical disruptions, changing trade patterns and unreliable shipping schedules continue to create uncertainty for produce businesses, affecting everything from transportation costs and available shipping capacity to product quality and retail availability.
For an industry dependent on moving highly perishable fruits and vegetables across international markets, shipping delays can result in more than higher transportation expenses. Late arrivals can reduce remaining shelf life, increase shrink and leave retailers without sufficient product to meet customer demand.
Greg Palmer, vice president of trade and market development at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and chair of the Global Coalition of Fresh Produce, emphasized the importance of dependable shipping partnerships.
He noted that unreliable deliveries can result in empty produce shelves, potentially causing shoppers to purchase shelf-stable or processed alternatives instead of fresh fruits and vegetables.
“To ensure timely, high-quality arrivals, the Coalition is developing a voluntary Charter of Good Shipping Practices,” Palmer said.
The proposed charter would establish shared principles emphasizing collaboration, transparency, integrity and accountability among the businesses involved in international produce transportation.
Rather than imposing mandatory shipping regulations, the coalition hopes to create a common framework that encourages participants to communicate more effectively, establish clearer expectations and take greater responsibility for their roles in the supply chain.
The need for greater transparency emerged as a central theme during the Asia Fruit Logistica discussion.
Representatives of Goodfarmer Group in China explained that the company evaluates shipping providers based on temperature-control capabilities, on-time performance and container rollover records when making purchasing and logistics decisions.
Other participants highlighted the importance of establishing clear responsibility when fresh produce shipments are damaged or delayed, particularly when problems cannot be attributed to circumstances beyond the control of the companies involved.
The coalition has been developing the voluntary charter with its members since early 2026, building on earlier industry discussions about improving fairness and reliability in international produce transportation.
Ron Lemaire, president of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, moderated the Asia Fruit Logistica discussion and emphasized that the initiative is intended to bring the different participants in the supply chain together rather than create conflict between produce companies and shipping providers.
The coalition hopes the charter will help establish common expectations, strengthen partnerships and encourage more efficient movement of perishable cargo.
For growers and exporters, greater shipping reliability could help protect product quality and reduce financial losses associated with delayed shipments. Importers and distributors could benefit from more predictable arrivals, while retailers could maintain more consistent fresh produce supplies.
The initiative also recognizes that transportation efficiency and food waste are closely connected. Every unnecessary delay can shorten the selling window for highly perishable products, making reliable logistics an important component of both profitability and sustainability.
As the coalition continues developing its voluntary framework, the goal is to establish greater cooperation throughout international produce transportation while helping more fruits and vegetables reach consumers in the condition and timeframe intended.
