Ports

Fresh Produce Shippers Launch Best Practice Framework to Boost Supply Chain Reliability

The Global Coalition of Fresh Produce is preparing a Charter of Good Shipping Practices to address mounting reliability concerns in perishable logistics. Greg Palmer, coalition chair and VP of trade and market development at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, said the framework targets five core areas: collaboration and communication through improved transparency and data sharing; fair business terms eliminating opaque pricing and vague contracts; competitive efficiency supporting cost-effective operations; cargo integrity through optimal handling; and resilience planning with coordinated risk response. The charter aims to strengthen partnerships and enhance supply chain efficiency without assigning blame to individual stakeholders. Ocean transport schedule reliability has emerged as a critical issue threatening shipper operations. Palmer emphasized the initiative seeks to foster industry-wide collaboration rather than finger-pointing. The framework is scheduled for presentation next month.