Looking to increase opportunities in cold chain development, a delegation of 13 executives representing India’s public and private sector launched a trade mission to the United States aimed at improving the country’s quality and safety of transporting perishables. India has become one of the largest producers of fruits and vegetables in the world. Yet a lack of infrastructure, capacity, technical experience, and standards in handling and storage result in approximately 30 percent of produce wasted each year.

The delegation was hosted by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA), and Carrier Transicold, a unit of Carrier Corp. that helps improve transport and shipping temperature control with a complete line of equipment for refrigerated trucks, trailers and containers. Carrier Corp. is a business unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). Since 1993 Carrier Transicold has served the transport refrigeration industry in India, where it enjoys a leadership position with its large network of service dealers and parts distribution.

The delegation toured Carrier Transicold’s Athens, Ga., refrigeration manufacturing facility, learned about the latest in Carrier’s truck and trailer refrigeration innovation, and participated in a workshop on proper loading practices for refrigerated trucks and trailers.

“We were honored to share best practices in transport refrigeration with this important delegation from India to help them develop safety standards and reliable methods of transporting perishables and frozen foods for both domestic and export consumption,” said David Appel, president, Carrier Transicold.

In addition to visiting Carrier’s Athens plant, the delegation also toured Carrier Transicold’s customer, Sysco Atlanta, LLC. “The benefits to the Indian cold chain executives to see firsthand and learn from experienced leaders in the U.S. are invaluable, as they will be able to apply this knowledge to hasten the pace of development of India’s cold chain,” said Richard Tracy, director of international programs, Global Cold Chain Alliance, a global organization that represents all major industries engaged in temperature-controlled logistics.

India public sector participants included representatives from the National Horticulture Board; the Ministry of Food Processing and Industries; and Fresh and Healthy Enterprise, Ltd., which was established by the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) to create world-class cold chain infrastructure.

“We are in the process of establishing a refrigerated transport test facility in India,” said Dr. R.K. Sharma, senior deputy director, National Horticulture Board. “Seeing the level of technology in Carrier’s facility was very useful and informative, particularly as we consider financing for transport refrigeration units under government promoted schemes and projects.”

Private sector attendees ranged from cold storage facility owners and engineers to complete cold chain logistics providers, such as Snowman Logistics Ltd., which has 25 modern warehouses distributing to more than 4,400 outlets in more than 100 cities in India.

“It was an enriching experience,” said Ravi Kannan, chief executive officer, Snowman Logistics Ltd. “Visiting the Sysco food distribution warehouse, as well as the Carrier manufacturing plant added tremendous value as we look to apply best practices in India.”

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