With Valentine’s Day around the corner, many of us are considering getting special gifts for our significant others. Along with jewelry and fancy dinners, some very popular gifts for this holiday are bouquets of flowers and boxes of chocolates. While these types of gifts are enjoyable, they also tend to be more susceptible to temperature when they are being shipped to a loved one’s door.

Shipping products as delicate as live flowers requires a great deal of consideration. Not only can excessive cold and excessive heat damage the plants, but a lack of moisture can also cause wilting while too much humidity will lead to mold growth[1]. You also need to factor in what type of flowers you are sending to your significant other. Standard flowers like roses should be stored between 33°F-37°F, while more tropical flowers like orchids need to stay above 50°F during shipment[2].  Refrigerants and temperature-sensitive packaging can help to maintain these temperatures. Additional requirements for shipping flowers include tying them to a secure base and using soil rather than water to prevent leaks[3].

Chocolate is another type of gift that can be temperamental under certain thermal conditions. The average melting point for chocolate is 86°F-90°F; therefore, if your loved ones live in a warmer climate, you run the risk of sending them a gooey mess rather than a lovely present[4]. To prevent this, it helps to prepare your chocolate package before shipment. This involves keeping the product cool before packing it, including a buffer lining so that any packed refrigerants will not freeze to the chocolate, and researching delivery times so that your package can arrive sooner and in prime condition[5]. When it comes to packaging your chocolate, gel packs act as a cost-effective refrigerant with long temperature durations while insulated shippers help to keep out the heat[6].

Cryopak offers a complete range of shipping solutions and phase change material options to address your temperature control packaging needs, whether you are sending flowers, chocolates, or other items affected by thermal fluctuation. You can reach us through our website; www.cryopak.com, by email; sales@cryopak.com or by phone; (732) 346-9200.

References

[1] “Cut Flower Temperature-Controlled Logistics.” Iceotemp, 29 July 2020, https://iceotemp.co.uk/guide/temperature-controlled-logistics/

[2] Marrone, Mike. “Best Temperature for Cut Flowers-Preservation for Wholesale Florists.” Cold Shot Chillers, 19 November 2019, https://waterchillers.com/blog/post/how-preserve-cut-flowers-best-temperature-store-water

[3] “Packaging Guidelines for Flowers and Plants.” Fedex, 2008, http://www.fedex.com/us/packaging/guides/Flowers_fxcom.pdf

[4] “5 Tips to Deliver Chocolate Without Melting!” Supply Chain Game Changer, 25 January 2022, https://supplychaingamechanger.com/5-tips-for-delivering-chocolate-without-melting/

[5] Skrzekut, Tammy. “How-To: Shipping Chocolate Without Melting.” PAC Worldwide, 9 April 2019, https://www.pac.com/2019/04/how-to-ship-chocolate/

[6] “A Guide to Shipping Chocolate.” Insulated Products Corp, https://ipcpack.com/resources/shipping-chocolate-guide/