Leading US watermelon grower-shipper Leger & Son and New England-based tomato producer Backyard Farms have both announced the signing of new contracts with CHEP, the pallet and container pooling service provider.
Both companies use the group's pallets to transport produce from their facilities to supermarket retailers, wholesale distributors and terminal markets across Texas and the east coast of the US and the northeast of the country respectively.
Leger & Sons has been using CHEP pallets to transport watermelons for 15 years, and has enjoyed a 'great long-term relationship' with the company, according to president Greg Leger.
'Leger & Son is a great long-time partner, and we are pleased to receive their continued support,' said CHEP USA vice-president for new business development Tim Smith.
Backyard Farms is joining up with CHEP for the first time having used one-way whitewood pallets to transport produce to market since it commenced business in 2006.
The switch to CHEP is seen as one of a number of ways the group is looking to cut its carbon footprint, as well as ensuring product quality.
'We wanted to set the standard very high from the pallet to the top layer of fruit,' said Backyard Farms executive vice-president of sales and marketing Tim Cunniff. 'Ours is a premium product and we do everything we can to ensure it gets to the shopper in the same great shape it leaves our greenhouses, and that starts with a strong and consistent shipping platform like the ones we get from CHEP.'
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