The produce supply chain is one of the most demanding in the food industry. Perishability is unforgiving, margins are tight, and even a few degrees or a few hours off schedule can mean the difference between a profitable load and a total loss. That is exactly why RLS Logistics is expanding into the fresh produce market.
With more than 57 years of experience managing temperature controlled freight in the food supply chain, RLS is built for the unique challenges the produce industry faces every day. Our focus on produce brings the same cold chain solutions that frozen and refrigerated food manufacturers have trusted for decades, now tailored to meet the specific demands of fresh produce.
A Booming Market That Demands Smarter Logistics
Fresh produce is a $300+ billion industry in the United States, and it is growing. Consumer demand for fresh, locally sourced, and organic options continues to rise, placing mounting pressure on growers, distributors, and shippers to move product faster and with less waste. Yet the cold chain infrastructure supporting fresh produce has historically lagged behind the standards established in the frozen and refrigerated food sectors. That gap is exactly where RLS steps in.
Unlike frozen products that can be held for months, fresh produce has a shelf life measured in days, sometimes hours. A single breakdown in the cold chain, a missed delivery appointment, or an unexpected temperature spike can render an entire load unsellable. Add to that the varying temperature requirements across commodity types and seasonal volume swings, and it becomes clear why produce logistics demands a partner with real infrastructure, real technology, and real accountability.
The RLS Competitive Advantage for Produce Shippers
When produce companies evaluate logistics partners, they need more than a truck and a back office. They need a partner who understands the biology of their product and the compliance requirements of their retail customers.
RLS operates a multi-temperature cold storage network with facilities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania strategically positioned to serve the dense retail and distribution markets of the Northeast. All RLS temperature controlled operations are BRCGS certified, ensuring the highest standards of food safety are maintained from receipt through final delivery.
Speed to Market Through Strategic Positioning
In produce logistics, efficiency is paramount. Our cross-docking facility in Newfield, NJ enables produce companies to move product rapidly to major metropolitan markets including Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore, and Boston, without incurring traditional cold storage costs or handling delays. Products are consolidated and dispatched on compressed timelines, reducing the handling steps that create risk.
Retailer Compliance Expertise That Protects Your Bottom Line
Compliance chargebacks are one of the most persistent cost drains for produce suppliers. RLS has deep expertise in navigating the requirements of the country’s most demanding retail buyers. Our established Walmart Consolidation Program, with day-specific delivery schedules to all Walmart distribution centers at discounted pricing, is a proven example of that expertise, and the same compliance playbook is now being applied to fresh produce.
Real Time Visibility Through anello
RLS’s proprietary customer platform, anello, gives produce clients 24/7 access to shipment tracking, inventory data, on-time performance metrics, and cost analytics in one dashboard. Anello also provides the documentation trail needed to satisfy FSMA traceability requirements and defend against retail compliance chargebacks, two of the most time consuming burdens facing produce shippers today.
Why Now Is the Right Time to Make the Switch
Consolidation among national 3PLs has left many produce shippers feeling like a low priority account at a firm that is more focused on scale than service. Capacity has tightened, costs have risen, and retailer compliance expectations have never been higher. RLS’s expansion into produce is a direct response to those conditions, bringing enterprise grade infrastructure and real time technology without the bureaucracy or indifference that comes with the industry’s largest players.
Whether you are a regional grower, a produce distributor, or a supplier frustrated by chargebacks and lack of visibility, RLS has the cold chain solutions to meet you where you are and build toward where you want to go.
ABOUT RLS LOGISTICS: Headquartered in Glassboro, NJ, RLS Logistics is a family-owned, third-party logistics provider specializing in value-added cold chain solutions, including LTL and FTL transportation, cold storage warehousing, and direct-to-consumer fulfillment. Founded in 1968, the company has been owned and managed by the Leo family for over 55 years and has grown into a leading integrated cold chain 3PL. For more information, visit https://www.rlslogistics.com/. Interested in joining one of the region’s leading temperature controlled logistics providers offering transportation, 3PL warehousing, packaging, and distribution services? Visit https://rlslogistics.com/logistics-careers.
