The distribution profile for California Citrus consists of several steps. Oranges are trucked to distribution centers, where they are unloaded by forklift and broken down (re-palletized) for distribution to retail outlets.
At the DC, the process of breaking down the unitized loads from the grower/shipper, placing them into storage, then subsequently "picking" orders to ship to the retail store can involve many steps. For this case scenario, the analysts assumed that the containers are stored in the DC using the original shipper's unit load (pallet). Containers are then re-stacked for shipment to stores on mixed pallets containing similar commodities, such as other produce items requiring refrigeration.
The mixed pallets leaving the DC are loaded onto 48-foot, refrigerated delivery trucks for transportation to retail outlets. Once at the retail stores, pallets are unloaded from the trailers and prepared for retail presentation.
Empty corrugated containers are broken down, placed into balers and recycled for their old corrugated container (OCC) value ($0.09 per container). At this point, the corrugated container’s function in the distribution of California Citrus oranges is complete.