“Lettuce” is an incomplete shipment description. Whole heads, loose leaves, and prepared salad products can have different packs and operating requirements. These six checks help a broker or dispatch team ask for the information needed to execute the actual order.
1. The precise product form
Record whether the shipment contains whole heads, intact leaves, or a cut product. Connect that description to the supplier’s specification instead of using a generic commodity label for every SKU.
2. The product’s cooling and release record
Ask which checks establish readiness and where they are recorded. Keep the order’s release status separate from an assumed cooling schedule.
3. The difference between storage guidance and trip instructions
UC Davis recommends near-0°C storage for romaine and leafy lettuce and discusses freezing injury. Use the reference as background; obtain the approved operating instructions and measurement criteria for the load. UC Davis lettuce reference.
4. Exposure to ethylene-producing commodities
Romaine is sensitive to ethylene, and UC Davis identifies mixed loads with products such as apples and pears as a potential exposure source. Have the full manifest reviewed before adding another commodity. UC Davis ethylene guidance.
5. Packaging and handling condition
Document observable damage without diagnosing its cause from a photograph. UC Davis describes mechanical injury as a factor in deterioration; accurate origin records help distinguish what was observed at each handoff. UC Davis handling reference.
6. Lot identity through receiving
Keep lot and order identifiers connected when pallets are split or received separately. Ask the receiver to identify which units any exception concerns rather than describing the entire trailer with one vague note.
Related reading: Share the ethylene and mixed-load guide with the person reviewing commodity compatibility.