Thawed, spoiled meat.
A customer eagerly waits for their locally sourced, quality grass-fed beef from your farm store, but instead, they get thawed, spoiled meat. Not only will you lose a customer, but your reputation as a supplier of quality meat is at risk, too.
Imagine, instead, your customer biting into a juicy, perfectly cooked steak and remarking how easy it was to get premium meat delivered to their door. With careful planning and execution, it's possible.
This guide will take you through the exact steps to shipping frozen meat the right way. From understanding regulations to selecting the right packaging materials to leveraging technology, you’ll learn how to confidently deliver your farm-fresh meat to customers' doors.
The frozen meat industry continues to grow for a few reasons:
In other words, more customers want farm-fresh, high-quality meat delivered to their doorsteps. Who wouldn’t love locally sourced meat arriving at their home, ready to be cooked and enjoyed?
However, shipping frozen meat is challenging. As a farm owner, you have to maintain its quality and safety, and that means understanding proper shipping methods. Let’s get into the best practices for shipping frozen meat.
Don’t plan or do anything until you know the regulations and requirements surrounding the shipping of perishable items. Failure to adhere to local or national laws can result in fines and penalties your business might not recover from.
You can’t just package meat in a box, slap on a label, and send it to your customers. There are specific guidelines in place to ensure food safety and prevent any potential health hazards.
Don’t be overwhelmed! And don’t let rules and regulations stop you from starting your business. As a general rule, if your product is processed and labeled by a USDA-inspected meat processing facility, your farm will be compliant to ship your products within the US.
Start by checking with your local health department and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the most up-to-date information on shipping regulations for perishable items like frozen meat. You’ll find everything you need to know, including temperatures, packaging materials, and labeling requirements.
Pro tip: The Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund is another valuable resource to help farms navigate education on compliance.
Next, research the regulations at the state level. They might not be any different, but it’s worth finding out.
By understanding and complying with regulations and requirements, you’ll protect your business from legal issues and show customers that their safety and satisfaction are paramount.
Choosing the right packaging materials is essential to ensure your meat products reach customers in top condition.
First, you’ll need to invest in insulated packaging. This is non-negotiable when shipping frozen meat. Various options — each with a different price point — are available, from styrofoam boxes to cardboard lined with insulation. Any option you choose should act as a barrier against heat, preventing your products from thawing.
Next, consider cooling elements. There are two main options: dry ice or gel packs. Gel packs are popular because they’re reusable and easy to work with. Gel packs work well for one-day ground transit zones. However, dry ice is the better option for two-day ground zones. However, GrazeCart CEO recommends gel packs as the better option:
Last, ensure your packaging is airtight to prevent any leaks or contamination during transit.
Pro tip: Take the stress out of finding packaging and go with one of our recommended packaging suppliers. You'll find them, and everything else you need in our Perishable Shipping Toolkit.
If you decide to outsource processing and packaging, choose a processor that uses roll-stock vacuum-sealed solutions. This maintains presentation and minimizes leaks.
Once you’ve chosen your packaging and your meat is securely packed, you need to label your boxes. Everyone involved in the shipping process needs to know exactly what they’re dealing with. Your label should have:
We recommend finding a quality shipping service like ShipStation. They have a good reputation for generating compliant labels and integrating with most carriers. Ensure each label reflects the proper parcel weight and dimensions and that dry ice is declared a hazardous material if the carrier requires it.
You’ve got your packaging, your meat is packed appropriately, and your boxes are labeled. Now, which shipping partner do you choose?
Key word — reliable. When it comes to selecting a courier for shipping frozen meat, you want a reliable partner that, ideally, has a proven track record of delivering perishable items on time and in excellent condition. Here are some questions to ask before choosing a shipping partner:
When choosing a shipping partner, arm yourself with these questions. A reputable courier service will be happy to provide detailed information and reassure you that your frozen meat packages will be in good hands.
Pro tip: GrazeCart customers can use their own delivery fleet or choose nationwide carriers like UPS. With our platform, you can customize products, prices, and fees for different areas. You can also set thresholds for free delivery. Last, GrazeCart customers enjoy savings of over 80 percent on overnight rates.
Naturally, shipping frozen perishables can be trickier in the sweltering summer months. You’ll need to make adjustments to your shipping practices and have contingency plans in place.
One tip is to double down on insulation. Use thicker styrofoam boxes or add an extra layer of insulation. You could also add more cooling elements, like gel packs or dry ice, to counteract the hot weather.
Another option is to plan your shipping times. For example, you don’t want meat shipments sitting in a warehouse over the weekend. Try planning your meat shipments for the beginning of the week. Also, look into overnight and expedited shipping.
Most importantly, keep your customers in mind and in the loop. If their shipment might be delayed due to weather conditions, update the delivery estimates, or ask if they would like to rearrange the delivery. Transparency goes a long way.
As mentioned above, keeping your customers in the loop is essential to a successful farm to fork business. Here’s how.
The best businesses take on criticism and use it to improve. When customers have concerns, do your best to find solutions.
Related Video: Mastering Video To Build Customer Relationships
Shipping frozen meat can be daunting. From navigating regulations to maintaining temperatures and ensuring timely delivery, you have a lot to think about. Follow the steps in this guide to get started!
Here’s a quick recap of the steps:
Finally, leverage technology for the best results. There’s no getting around it: Technology is changing logistics — for the better. With the right software solutions, you can streamline your frozen meat shipping process, from preparing orders to tracking shipments to managing returns.
Built by farmers, for farmers, with GrazeCart, you can:
…and more.
This article covers the basics, but if you want to dig deeper and learn the complete process for shipping perishables, sign up for the Perishable Shipping Course today.