A reefer, short for refrigerated container, is an insulated shipping container with its own refrigeration unit that maintains a chosen set point throughout the voyage. For table eggs we pre-cool the box and hold it at 5 to 8 degrees Celsius, agreed per destination, so interior quality and shelf life are protected across the lane.
Loadability is the other reason reefers matter to buyers. A 40 ft reefer carries approximately 472,320 eggs, about 1,312 master cartons of 360, while a 20 ft reefer holds approximately 236,160 eggs, about 656 cartons. The 20 ft reefer is also our minimum order quantity. Because the container runs on vessel power and is monitored, temperature records can be provided on request. Choosing a reefer over a dry container is not optional for eggs on anything but the very shortest lanes: without temperature control, Haugh unit and freshness fall away before the cargo arrives.