Cold Chain Logistics in Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour sits on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, and its freight task is dominated by one of the most perishable products in the country: fresh berries. The area produces more than half of Australia’s berries, and berry growing makes up around 80 per cent of local horticulture, with blueberries the standout crop. A working harbour and fishing fleet add seafood to the mix, giving the region two food streams that both depend on tight temperature control.

The Pacific Highway runs through the region and is the main road link for product heading south to Sydney and north into Queensland. Coffs Harbour Airport carries time-sensitive freight when it is needed, and large grower cooperatives around the city, including the OzGroup network of more than a hundred growers, pack and aggregate fruit before it ships. Because the harvest window is short and the fruit is fragile, most of that volume has to move within a day or two of picking.

The businesses we work with here have almost no margin for a warm truck. Blueberries and other soft fruit lose quality fast once picked, and a single gap in the cold chain can turn a premium consignment into a downgraded one before it reaches the market floor. Icelander provides refrigerated transport, cold storage and pick and pack that hold fruit and seafood at the right temperature from the packing shed through to the distribution centre and retailer.