The Apple Harvest Begins: Transporting Top Fruit from France to Ireland

As autumn settles in, one of the most anticipated events in the agricultural world kicks off—the apple harvest. France, a key player in Europe’s fruit production, is renowned for its wide array of premium apple varieties. Each year, a significant portion of France’s apple harvest is exported to markets across Europe, including Ireland. The 2024 apple season is expected to be especially busy, with strong demand for fresh, high-quality apples in Ireland. But transporting these delicate fruits requires a combination of precision, care, and the right logistics to ensure they arrive fresh and ready for market.

At HANNON Transport, we’re proud to play a key role in this seasonal effort, facilitating the smooth transportation of apples from the orchards of France to the shelves of Irish supermarkets and food outlets. Our expertise in cold chain logistics ensures that these apples stay fresh, crisp, and market-ready when they reach consumers.

The Challenges of Transporting Fresh Apples

Although apples are relatively resilient compared to some other fruits, they are still highly sensitive to temperature changes, humidity, and physical damage. For apples to reach consumers at their best, they need to be transported under controlled conditions to preserve their crisp texture, vibrant colour, and nutritional value.

Key Factors in Transporting Apples:

Temperature Control: Maintaining the right temperature is crucial to keeping apples fresh. If apples are exposed to temperatures that are too high or too low, they can suffer from premature ripening, shrivelling, or, in extreme cases, spoilage.

Humidity Control: Apples require a balanced level of humidity during transport. Too much moisture can cause the apples to become mushy, while too little can dry them out, reducing their quality.

Careful Handling: Apples are easily bruised, which can affect their appearance and appeal to consumers. During transport, careful handling and secure packaging are key to preventing damage.

How HANNON Transport Ensures Fresh Apples Arrive in Perfect Condition

At HANNON Transport, we are experts in managing the delicate cold chain logistics that apple transport requires. We take great care to ensure that each apple shipment is handled with precision, from packing at the farm to delivery to Irish markets.

Key Steps in Our Apple Transport Process:

Temperature-Controlled Vehicles: Apples are transported in refrigerated trailers that are precisely monitored to maintain the ideal temperature of 2°C to 4°C. This ensures that the apples stay fresh, crisp, and free from premature ripening during the journey.

Humidity Regulation: Our refrigerated trucks are equipped with advanced humidity control systems, ensuring that apples are transported at optimal moisture levels. This helps maintain their texture and freshness, preventing excessive moisture build-up or dehydration.

Efficient Transport Routes: Given the perishable nature of apples, we prioritise quick, direct transport routes. Our seamless logistics system ensures that apples are delivered from the orchards in France to distribution centres and supermarkets in Ireland as swiftly as possible, usually within 48 hours of leaving the farm.

The Journey: From French Orchards to Irish Shelves

The journey of French apples to Ireland begins in the orchards of France, where the apples are carefully harvested, sorted, and packed for transport. From there, the apples are loaded onto refrigerated trucks and transported to French ports, where they are shipped across the English Channel to Ireland.

The Key Stages in the Transport Process:

• Harvesting and Sorting: French farmers carefully select apples that are at the perfect stage for transport. After harvesting, the apples are sorted, packed into protective cartons, and prepared for transport to ensure they remain undamaged during transit.
• Sea Freight to Ireland: Apples are then transported by ferry or through international road transport across the English Channel. The cold chain is maintained throughout, ensuring that the apples are kept in optimal conditions.
• Delivery Across Ireland: Upon arrival in Ireland, apples are swiftly transported to distribution centres or directly to retail outlets, where they are prepared for sale. Whether they’re heading to local supermarkets or larger wholesalers, fast, efficient delivery is key to maintaining freshness.

The Importance of Timely Delivery

With consumer demand peaking in the autumn months, timely deliveries are essential. Fresh apples must reach Irish markets within a short time window to ensure they retain their high-quality appearance and taste. Missed deliveries or delays can lead to spoiled produce and dissatisfied consumers.

Why Timeliness Matters for Apple Transport:

• Maximising Shelf Life: Apples typically have a shelf life of several weeks if handled properly, but any delays or temperature fluctuations can reduce this. Ensuring prompt and reliable deliveries helps maximise the window of freshness, allowing consumers to enjoy apples at their peak.
• Reducing Waste: Delays in transport or improper handling can result in spoiled fruit, leading to significant food waste. Through careful management of logistics, we reduce waste and ensure that apples reach their destination in prime condition.

A Fruitful Partnership in 2024

In 2024, the demand for fresh French apples in Ireland is expected to rise, with over 70,000 tonnes being transported from France to Irish markets. As consumers increasingly seek fresh, high-quality apples, the importance of maintaining an efficient and reliable supply chain grows. At HANNON Transport, we are dedicated to ensuring that each apple shipment is handled with care, from the moment it leaves the orchard in France until it reaches Irish supermarkets and food markets.

Through our temperature-controlled logistics and careful attention to every stage of the transportation process, we help preserve the freshness and quality of French apples, delivering top-quality fruit to Irish consumers throughout the peak harvest season. With our commitment to excellence, we continue to support the thriving apple trade between France and Ireland, year after year.