In the age of globalization, the journey of a fresh product from its origin to the consumer can span thousands of miles. This is the fascinating story of a Colombian lemon company that dared to cross borders, expanding its operations into the United States. At UTB Logistics, we have had the privilege of accompanying them on this adventure, facilitating the distribution of their Colombian lemons in the vast U.S. market. Our joint journey has involved facing and overcoming unique logistical challenges at every step.
The beginning
It all began when a significant lemon producer in the Antioquia region of Colombia decided to enter the U.S. market. The company has been operating in Colombia for several years and is a significant participant in the country’s mass production of lemons (Colombia is the fourth-largest producer of lemons in South America).
This company knew it had a quality product with an incredible potential for success in the United States. However, as usual when it comes to big decisions, crucial questions arose: How to move successfully in an unknown market? How to manage transportation operations thousands of miles away in another country? How to negotiate with large companies in the United States?
The company members had many doubts, almost as many as the desire to continue expanding their operations. For them, getting their lemons to the supermarket shelves, whether in New York, Miami, or Los Angeles, represented an entirely new logistical challenge, for which they needed a strategic ally who knew how operations in the United States worked, from regulations and transportation methods to routes, contacts, and carrier networks.
After finally venturing into the United States through a logistics partner, their process was complex. They were unable to achieve their goals and did not feel that they were reaching the full potential of their product. They wanted to find a better partner for the distribution of their Colombian lemons in the U.S.
It was there that UTB Logistics, in its search for alliances with international companies, crossed paths with one of the lemon producer’s executives. This played a decisive role in ensuring that the company would continue with its goal of positioning itself in the U.S. market, but with new strategies and a new logistics team that would accompany it every step of the way.
In an exceptional union of teams, UTB Logistics and the Colombian lemon company forged a strategic alliance that would transform the distribution of their citrus fruit in the United States. Our logistics and distribution expertise in the North American market, combined with the high-quality product of our Colombian partner, created a perfect synergy.
After months of meticulous planning, the only thing left to do was to put this strategy into practice in the real world. But before we get into the details, let’s examine the Colombian company’s export process.
The journey of lemons: exporting to the United States
Colombian lemons, known for their intense flavor and culinary versatility, begin their story in the fertile fields of the South American country. After being carefully harvested, they undergo rigorous quality controls before embarking on their transatlantic journey.
Fun fact: Colombia is South America’s fourth-largest producer of lemons, with annual production exceeding 100,000 tons.
Once packed, the lemons are placed in refrigerated containers at a constant temperature of 48°F (9°C). This temperature is not arbitrary; it is the optimum point to preserve the lemons’ freshness and quality during their long journey.
Maintaining the cold chain is crucial. A fluctuation of even a few degrees can accelerate fruit ripening or make the difference between good and bad fruit.
That’s where the refrigerated container system presents itself as a lifesaver. The heart of this system is a compressor that circulates the refrigerant through a series of coils. As the refrigerant expands and contracts, it absorbs heat inside the container and expels it outside. A thermostat controls this process, ensuring the temperature is maintained at the desired level.
Before distribution: traveling across the Atlantic Ocean
Containers start their sea journey from Colombian ports to the east coast of the United States. Depending on weather conditions and shipping routes, this journey can take between 5 and 7 days.
Fun Fact: A modern container ship can carry up to 24,000 containers in a single voyage – imagine how many lemons can fit on one of these giant ships!
Upon arrival at strategic ports such as Miami, New Jersey or Georgia, the nationalization process begins.
These are some of the documents and steps necessary for the cargo to enter the U.S. without problems:
- USDA phytosanitary inspections.
- Verification of customs documentation.
- Payment of customs duties.
Regulations for importing agricultural products are strict and ever-changing. Our advice at UTB Logistics, even when we are not directly involved in this process, is to ensure that each shipment complies with all legal requirements, avoiding costly delays at customs.
Distribution of the Colombian Lemons across the U.S
Once the Colombian lemons are on U.S. soil, the most critical phase begins: distribution. This is where UTB Logistics takes complete control of the operation.
At our company, we are IANA (Intermodal Association of North America) certified, so we have the necessary experience and expertise in intermodal transportation. We have a vast network of carriers that can move your cargo by air, sea, and land.
As we had agreed with the Colombian lemon producer, they had 15 pallets traveling by container to the port of Miami, and they needed them to be unloaded from the ship and transferred to a truck.
This truck would have as its first destination a storage warehouse on the northeast coast of the United States, where the cargo would be unloaded and stored for a short period until it was picked up by another truck, which was contacted by us. This second truck would pick up the cargo from the storage warehouse and transport it to a well-known American supermarket’s distribution center (DC).
Just as the Colombian lemons in their distribution process had to be kept at 48 degrees Fahrenheit during their sea journey, they would have to be transported by land under the same conditions, under the protection of a reefer truck.
Given the considerable quantity of our client’s lemons, we used Full truckload (FTL) transportation. This decision allowed us to transport their excellent product without sharing space with other shipments. This choice avoided the constant handling associated with LTL and eliminated additional waiting time in transit.
How do you decide between FTL or LTL distribution?
Whether using full truckload (FTL) or less-than-truckload (LTL) is crucial for any shipment. For the lemon company, we generally opt for FTL to ensure total temperature control and for the reasons mentioned above. However, on smaller volume occasions, we have implemented innovative LTL solutions that allow you to safeguard costs by ensuring that lemons share space only with temperature-compatible products.
Delivering products in the first hours of the morning
Another particularity of this shipment was that the distribution center only received loads in the early morning hours. To ensure the safety and supervision of the process, our logistics agents remained vigilant until late at night. This ensured that the consignee received the shipment without any problems and that the carrier was dispatched smoothly.
This was the first of many cases to follow. The Colombian lemon producer realized that the distribution in these centers had succeeded and that the business relationship with the supermarket chain was sufficiently consolidated to establish a long-term agreement. In addition, they were delighted with UTB Logistics for our professionalism and transparency.
Today, our Colombian customer is one of our most important contacts. Having scaled up its operations and increased its logistics staff, it is now communicating to us the ongoing need to continue moving lemons throughout the United States.
Going a step beyond product distribution
Our commitment goes beyond moving cargo. We have accompanied our client in every step of their expansion into the U.S. market, in areas such as:
- Advising on interstate transportation regulations
- Optimization of packaging to reduce damage in transit
- Data analysis to identify demand patterns and adjust import volumes
Best practices for product distribution
- Advance planning: we coordinate shipments weeks in advance to ensure the availability of specialized equipment.
- Real-time monitoring: We use GPS technology and temperature sensors to constantly track the cargo.
- Operational flexibility: We maintain contingency plans for each route, allowing us to adapt quickly to unforeseen events.
- Constant communication: Our control center maintains open lines with customers, carriers, and distribution centers 24 hours a day.
- Continuous innovation: We invest in technology and training to stay at the forefront of fresh produce logistics.
In summary:
The journey of these Colombian lemons, from the fields of Antioquia to the shelves of U.S. supermarkets, is a testament to the power of modern logistics and international collaboration. At UTB Logistics, we pride ourselves on being the bridge that connects innovative growers with discerning consumers, ensuring that each lemon arrives as fresh as the day it was harvested.
This comprehensive support has been key to our client scaling its operations from occasional shipments to a consistent presence in the U.S. market.
May this story be the impetus you need to dare to pursue that dream of distributing your products in the United States.
Written by:
UTB Logistics
UTB Logistics is your trusted partner in ensuring seamless and efficient logistics and transportation management.
