Shipping Perishables

We know some of your most important shipments are those perishables items that need to move quickly to their destinations. Whether you are sending some fresh-cut flowers from the Northwest to the Heartland or some fresh Gulf Coast crabs to the East Coast, we gotcha covered.

Seafood and Live Fish

We ship your catch! Whether your shipping fresh seafood or live fish, we'll get your shipment to it's destination with great care. Here are some shipping tips to consider before you ship.

• Seafood and live fish shipments must be packed in sealed, leak-proof polyethylene bags that have a thickness of at least 4 mil. Two polyethylene bags with a thickness of 2 mil each are acceptable, as well.
• Seafood cartons should be secured with two nylon bands around the width of each carton.
• Live fish may be shipped in a leak-proof container with a thickness of at least 3 mil.
• Protective absorbent materials should be placed between polyethylene bags and the inner wall of the shipping carton.
• The outer cartons should be constructed of corrugated paperboard or solid fiberboard.

Fresh Flowers and Plants

Shipping fresh flowers and plants should never be a thorn in your side. Let us take care of your needs—we will get your perishables to their destination while they are fresh. Here are some packaging tips to help you nip it in the bud before you ship.

• Both must be packed in a container sturdy enough to provide protection from customary handling and inclement weather while in transit.
• Containers should be marked with the description of their contents and indicate if they are of a fragile nature.

Shipments Requiring Refrigerants

To keep your perishable shipment cool and fresh, we recommend using a refrigerant. Just follow these packaging tips and leave the rest to us.

• Refrigerants should maintain temperature for 48 hours.
• We recommend using chemical coolants such as dry ice or frozen gel packs for refrigerated shipments.
• The maximum amount of dry ice allowed in a package is five pounds and it must be shipped in a ventilated container. The container should be marked with the words "DRY ICE" and the exact weight of the dry ice (1-5#).
• Coolers for perishables are available at select Cargo locations.