How to Choose the Right Temperature for Chilled and Frozen Products

Fresh produce stored on pallets inside a refrigerated container

Temperature matters when you’re storing food. But colder isn’t always better.  Different products need different conditions to maintain their quality, freshness and shelf life.  Fresh produce may need gentle chilling, while frozen meat needs consistently low temperatures. Products that need to be frozen quickly have another set of requirements altogether.Choosing the right cold storage solution […]

How Nossab Fisheries Keeps Fresh Seafood Moving with Reliable Cold Storage

School of Cape snoek (Thyrsites atun) swimming in the Atlantic Ocean off the West Coast of South Africa

Fresh seafood doesn’t wait. From the moment fish are landed, maintaining the correct temperature is essential to preserving quality and food safety.  Every stage of the cold chain matters and any interruption can have a direct impact on product quality. During a recent visit to Nossab Fisheries on South Africa’s West Coast, we had the […]

How Sunnyside Berry Farm Mastered the Harvest

Fresh strawberries in crates inside an Almar refrigerated container for berry farming.

Growing berries at scale in South Africa requires a deep understanding of timing.  For Sunnyside Berry Farm, a business with a 30-year history, the process is built on a specific cycle of cold storage and rapid growth. Keeping the Plants at 4°C The process starts with the young plants, which need a period of rest […]

Inside the Stegen Group Banana Plantations

A wide view of rows of healthy banana trees on a farm under a clear blue sky

In the coastal hills of Mtunzini, the Stegen name carries the weight of over a century of agricultural heritage.  With a legacy in South African farming that spans generations, the Stegen Group has mastered the art of the harvest, managing a sprawling operation that includes extensive banana plantations and sugarcane fields. For the Stegens, delivering […]

How to Cut Your Cold Storage Energy Costs (Without Compromising Quality)

Best airflow inside a reefer container

In South Africa, managing a cold chain often feels like a balancing act.  With electricity tariffs continuing to climb, the cost of keeping your products fresh can quickly weigh down your bottom line. The good news?   You don’t need to reinvent your entire operation to see a massive difference.  By focusing on how your […]

Cold Storage for Small-Scale Farmers: Affordable Solutions That Reduce Food Waste

Farmers using mobile cold storage to keep produce fresh and reduce post-harvest losses.

Across South Africa, small-scale farmers play a vital role in supplying fresh produce to local markets, informal traders, cooperatives and community feeding schemes.  Yet despite their contribution, one of the biggest challenges these farmers face is preventing post-harvest losses.  Without reliable cold storage, fruits and vegetables begin to deteriorate within hours of being harvested — […]

Almar’s Cold Storage Solutions: Blast Freezers vs. Reefer Containers

Almar Blast Freezer container next to a Reefer container for cold storage comparison in South Africa

Both of Almar’s Blast Freezers and Reefer Containers are expert solutions for temperature control, designed for distinct applications within storage. Understanding their core capabilities and typical use cases is essential: Blast Freezers: Engineered for Rapid Deep Freezing Almar’s Blast Freezers are precision-engineered for rapid, high-volume deep freezing.  They are specifically designed to quickly bring down […]

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