ABSTRACT
The new methods for transporting perishable technologies better control the cold chain and allow for tracking the process through computerized systems. When transported by sea, bananas are to be ‘put to sleep’, reducing the amount of oxygen in the storage area, to extend their shipping life. Banana trading multi-nationals were initially fully vertically integrated as they owned plantations, port terminals, reefer ships, ripening centers, and cold storage facilities. An important dimension of the banana trade concerns its containerization. Globalization and more reliable cold chains can significantly impact supply chains by expanding available options in terms of locations and processes. This results in an increase in the quantity and quality of products available on markets as well as lower costs. The structure of global maritime shipping is thus adapting to service the reefer trade, implying a shift away from specialized ports, or specialized terminals within ports, to standard container terminals.
