Cold Chain Improvement Initiative

Intensive cold chain operational reviews were conducted with 57 carefully targeted companies, across seven global markets, with teams of 6-12 people for approximately 2 weeks in each market. A two day conference was given in Shanghai for nearly 200 participants.

The operational reviews encouraged the companies to make significant improvements to their operations such as new handling practices and facility improvements for better quality products and improved efficiency, such as: installation of cooled product staging areas and better port handling practices.

Many of the companies handle significant quantities of imported U.S. farm products.

Up through FY2004, as direct results of the above type activities, the Initiative yielded more than $3 million reported first year target market imports of U.S. perishable food products (fresh fruit, poultry, and meat, being the major items).