As the grass peeks through the snow and the tire chains come off, that can only mean one thing for the supply chain: it’s produce season! An important time of year for our industry, produce season is when perishable fruits and vegetables are harvested from southern farms and shipped to major distributors across North America. From spring through summer, we expect to see higher demand for produce, translating to a higher need for capacity throughout the transportation sector. 

Spring means warmer temperatures, allowing for seasonal products to be harvested earlier in warmer climates. With earlier product availability, bringing produce to the market sooner becomes essential for retailers to provide for their customers, and growers to maintain the quality of their goods. While production increases in southern and western regions, securing freight in major hubs becomes competitive, challenging shippers to access capacity. The ripple effect from this competition influences rates and availability in other areas of the country as well, and staying prepared is key for mitigating supply chain tightness.  

Fortunately, for an often-volatile industry like ours, DAT Freight & Analytics has detailed less extreme fluctuations in spot rates and fuel costs than in previous seasons. This spring, DAT reported a 1.7% decrease in reefer spot rates and a 10.5% decrease in fuel prices, as compared to spring 2024.  

As demand increases to enable carriers to move a high volume of crops, capacity tightens, causing freight rates to rise. The significance of additional freight in the marketplace particularly affects reefer procurement, creating higher spot rates. For areas exporting produce from the harvest, rates increase, while other areas of the country bringing freight in, tend to decrease.   

Across the country, various states experience transportation peaks at different times, depending on the type of produce.  

Having a trusted reefer provider for produce season is essential. This type of dedicated coverage not only ensures that important products maintain their quality throughout the shipping cycle, but also that shippers that need trailers can access them when necessary.  

In the face of limited capacity, there are a few strategies you should keep in mind:  

  • Adjust your lead time for trailer procurement 
  • Include flexible delivery dates and ship early when possible  
  • Explore alternative shipping modes 
  • Establish relationships with a trusted carrier 
  • Utilize the expertise of a freight broker like Echo to help you navigate hurdles 

With a highly dedicated team of experts and the leading technology to create a seamless shipping experience, Echo is here to help you at all times of the year, but particularly in busy seasons. Utilize a trusted partner like Echo to manage your freight needs so that you can focus on business. With the diverse transportation options and advanced system support you need, Echo can help you skillfully prepare for and access unmatched capacity this produce season. 

Contact our experts today at 800-354-7993, info@echo.com, or request a quote for a shipment. 

For informational purposes.