Level 7 · Part 2
Handling and loading
Most damage on the road is caused by packing, loading and waiting, not by distance.
Rough loading, overfilled containers and long waits in the sun cause many losses. These are things you can control, at little cost.
- Use strong, clean containers or packs that suit the product, and do not overfill them.
- Stack so that heavy items are at the bottom and nothing crushes the product below.
- Leave space for air to move around fresh produce, and keep it out of direct sun and rain.
- Load in a sensible order: what is delivered last goes in first.
- Tie down or secure the load so it does not shift or fall.
- Do not overload the vehicle: it is unsafe and damages both goods and vehicle.
- Check on arrival and note any damage straight away, ideally with the buyer present.
Clean vehicles and mixed loads
Do not carry food in a vehicle or container that recently held chemicals, fuel, animals or waste unless it has been thoroughly cleaned. Do not load food next to anything that could contaminate it. Check what rules apply to transporting food in your country.
Safety first
Loads that are too heavy or badly tied cause accidents. Follow the road rules and licence requirements for the vehicle and driver in your country.
Exercise 7.2 · A loading checklist
- Write a ten-point checklist for loading and moving your product.
- Test it on the next trip and note what you missed.
- Write one change that would reduce damage and cost little to make.
Background reading for this part:
- Small-Scale Postharvest Handling Practices: A Manual for Horticultural Crops (4th edition) — L. Kitinoja and A. A. Kader, University of California, Davis (hosted by FAO)