Everything owner-operators need to know about hauling produce in the Southeast — seasonal produce calendars for Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, reefer temperature settings by commodity, pre-cooling procedures, FSMA food safety requirements, and produce lane rates.
return ( Why Produce Season Matters for Owner-Operators Produce season is the most lucrative time of year for reefer haulers in the Southeast.
From January through September, a rolling wave of harvests moves through Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, creating consistent high-demand freight with rates that can significantly exceed dry van and flatbed averages.
But produce hauling has unique requirements — strict temperature control, food safety regulations, faster spoilage timelines, and demanding receivers who will reject loads for temperature deviations of just a few degrees.
Understanding these requirements before you hook up to a loaded reefer is the difference between a profitable season and expensive claims.
Southeast Produce Calendar Knowing when and where produce ships lets you position yourself ahead of demand and command top rates: Florida — The Early Season (January through May) Strawberries — Plant City, FL area.
Peak season January through March .
Florida produces roughly 10-15% of the U.S.
Loads ship north to distribution centers across the Eastern Seaboard.
Temperature requirement: 32-34 degrees F .
Tomatoes — Immokalee, Homestead, and Palmetto areas.
November through May , with peak volume February through April.
Florida supplies most of the U.S.
fresh tomato market during winter months.
Temperature: 55-60 degrees F for mature green, 46-50 degrees F for vine-ripe.
Bell peppers — South and central Florida.
Watermelons — Central and north Florida.
Sweet corn — Belle Glade, Pahokee area.
October through June for oranges, September through March for grapefruit.
Georgia — The Summer Season (May through August) Vidalia onions — Vidalia, GA area.
Protected geographic name — only onions from a designated 20-county area can be called Vidalia.
Temperature: 34-36 degrees F for long hauls.
Peaches — Middle Georgia (Peach County, Crawford, Houston, Macon County).
May through August , with peak in June and July.
Georgia is the third-largest peach producing state.
Blueberries — South Georgia (Alma, Waycross area).
Watermelons — Cordele, GA (the Watermelon Capital of the World).
Temperature: 32-36 degrees F for in-shell, varies for processed.
Alabama and Mississippi (June through August) Watermelons — South Alabama (including the Elba area in Coffee County).
Alabama is a notable watermelon producer.
Sweet potatoes — Mississippi is the second-largest sweet potato producer in the U.S.
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