Flowers are among the products that require ideal conditions for packaging and shipping to reach the buyer in their original state. Therefore, they are transported across countries using air freight to maintain their appeal and beauty. In this article, we learn how flowers are transported from abroad to the Kingdom, from harvest to delivery at the arrival airport.
Stage 1: Transporting flowers from the field to the airport
The journey begins in the field at the time of harvesting flowers that have reached peak freshness. Workers use specialized tools to cut the flowers while keeping the stems and leaves intact without damage. Immediately after harvesting, a precise sorting process begins to classify them based on type, size, and quality. This classification is a fundamental pillar of a successful transportation process because it ensures that groups of flowers with similar characteristics are exposed to the same suitable conditions for packaging and storage.
Sorting is followed by the cooling process. The flower harvest should be surrounded by an appropriate cooling temperature to extend its shelf life, slow down the wilting process, and maintain its freshness for as long as possible. At the same time and without delay, the flowers are packaged with the help of skilled labor according to careful procedures to ensure their protection from damage and temperature fluctuations during transport.
Vacuum cooling is one of the latest technologies used in packaging flowers. It relies on reducing the pressure around the flowers to lower their temperature and cool them quickly, which prevents wilting and extends their life after harvest. The vacuum cooling method is based on a simple physical fact: water boils at low temperatures and low pressure. This physical state creates a vacuum, during which the water stored in the flowers evaporates, causing the flowers to cool automatically and effectively.
This technology is suitable for transporting flowers across countries using air freight because it extends the shelf life of flowers by inhibiting the growth of microbes. Unlike other cooling methods, it also reduces the loss of water from flowers, which makes them wilt faster, thus ensuring they remain moist and plump throughout the transportation process.
Speed from this moment plays a crucial role in the remaining stages of air freight. The supplier is keen to transport the flowers quickly to the airport in trucks, which may be refrigerated, after packaging.
Stage 2: Inspection and loading onto the aircraft
Flowers are transported to designated storage areas immediately upon arrival at the airport. These areas are characterized by cooling systems whose temperature can be easily controlled. They are set to ideal temperature and humidity levels for preserving flowers. Cooling plays an important role in this stage because it prevents premature opening or wilting before the shipment reaches the importer.
Since the flowers are about to cross into the markets of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, they first pass through customs at the departure airport. The customs authority there inspects the shipment to ensure strict compliance with the import and export rules in the Kingdom. Among the most important documents that should be prepared in preparation for this step is the phytosanitary certificate, which proves that the flowers are free from pests and diseases, in order to protect the local market from the transmission of these pests and diseases. The more ready and complete the documents required by the departure airport customs are, the smoother and faster the shipment will pass to the aircraft.
This is followed by loading the flowers onto the aircraft and preparing them for transport via air freight, according to procedures that ensure safe loading of sensitive products such as flowers. These procedures ensure that the packages do not move during flight, by securing them with belts, nets, and straps that provide stability without pressing or damaging the delicate flowers.
Stage 3: Transport to the importer
The airline company is responsible for preserving the flower shipment during the flight. This stage is no less important than the previous two. It is keen to adjust the temperature and pressure to appropriate levels to provide a favorable environment for preserving the flowers. It also gives priority access to these time-sensitive and perishable products so that they are sent in the best condition.
If the flight stops at an intermediate airport, the flight crew should communicate with the ground receiving team at the time the shipment is unloaded from the aircraft and reloaded onto the departing aircraft, in order to provide specific instructions and precautions to the unloading and shipping team, so that no delays or problems occur in the transport.
Stage 4:Customs Clearance in the Kingdom
Upon the arrival of the flower shipment in the country, a similar series of procedures to the previous ones begins, but in reverse. The unloading crew at the airport transfers the flowers from the aircraft to designated storage areas equipped for cooling. After confirming the quantity of flowers received, the airport customs department begins its work. It inspects the shipment to ensure its compliance with the Kingdom’s regulations and calculates the customs tariff (which is 5% for roses, carnations, orchids, chrysanthemums, and other flowers). This is followed by reviewing the required documents and paperwork, in preparation for completing the clearance procedures and then releasing the shipment, so that the importer can receive it and freely transport it to distributors and stores.
To ensure a smooth customs clearance process for your flower shipment, use “Border Support”, your trusted partner to complete customs release procedures for flowers easily and in the shortest time. It guarantees the completion of the required documents, accurate payment of the customs tariff, and completion of procedures without delay, and also resolves any problems that may arise. Using a professional customs broker helps keep your flowers fresh and vibrant until they reach the buyer.
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