The many industries that make up the world of freight have undergone tremendous change over the past several decades. Each Friday, FreightWaves explores the archives of American Shipper’s nearly 70-year-old collection of shipping and maritime publications to showcase interesting freight stories of long ago.
The following is an excerpt from the September 1955 edition of the Jacksonville Seafarer.
Florida’s huge frozen food and fruit concentrate industries have more than a passing interest in a 6,000 lb. shipment of frozen foods, fruits and juices which appeared in Venezuelan supermarkets early this month.
The order was shipped as deck cargo on the Grace Line’s Santa Monica from New York, August 12. It was the first commercial shipment of frozen foods in foreign trade to move without any form of mechanical refrigeration.
The cargo arrived at Guanta, Venezuela in its insulated aluminum container after almost two weeks in railroad cars, trucks and the steamship — none of which provided refrigeration. It was the result of much research and work by a number of contributing organizations.
The ”super-chill” container used is 7′ 11″ square and 7′ 6″ high and was specially devised by the Aluminum Company of America. It has an inside liner, 6″ of insulation and an outer jacket. Aluminum was selected for use throughout because of its excellent low-temperature strength and non-contaminating characteristics.
The “super-chill” process which will quick-freeze foods and protect them for days at temperatures well below zero is achieved through the use of a cooling agent that has an extremely low temperature. The super-chilling is a relatively simple process merely requiring that the products be subjected to the liquid until they have reached the required temperature — in the case of a trip, such at this, about -150° F. The processing time may be as short as one hour. The food is cooled to such an extent, that it serves as its own cold reservoir to counter the effects of any small degree of heat that might leak into the efficient container. The Linde Air Products Company which assisted in the project pioneered in the use of the gas in the food packing industry to protect the freshness of all kinds of foods.
The container holds approximately 6,000 pounds of frozen foods, mainly vegetables, fruits and juices which are products of the well-known firm, Libby, McNeill & Libby. Libby has been interested in the potentials of the process for some time because among other reasons the food arrives in better shape, and since the cooling agent acts to trap the volatile elements giving the food aroma, it retains all its natural freshness when prepared for use.
The “super-chill” container will carry food to warehouses or stores direct without the transfers which may often cause thawing. There is also no chance of mechanical breakdowns. Because of its extreme cold, it can be handled for a reasonable period at room temperature. For the transportation companies, it holds the possibilities of great savings in space and of increased flexibility in cargo storage. For the shipper, it could eliminate the premium rates normally applied to refrigerated cargoes.
The shipment was ordered by the merchandising division of the International Basic Economy Corporation which is a large scale buyer of foods, including frozen, for its clientele in other countries, particularly Venezuela. This shipment will be sold in a supermarket in Puerto La Cruz.
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