With the start of the fruit season in the second half of the year, a wider variety of fruits becomes available both domestically and internationally, leading to increased transportation and sales volumes. During cold chain transport, temperature and humidity control have become a critical factor in maintaining fruit quality. As a result, demand for temperature and humidity data loggers has been rising.
"Disposable USB temperature data loggers remain the most popular option, largely because they are simple to use and do not rely on internet connectivity. Once transportation is complete, the logger attached directly to the fruit packaging can be connected to a computer or mobile phone to instantly generate a PDF report of temperature and humidity data. The report is tamper-proof, making it easy for inspectors to verify the temperature conditions throughout the entire transportation process," said Tina Sun from Fresh-Key (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd.
"Because our logger uses a digital temperature sensor from Texas Instruments, it has advantages over many similar products, including high accuracy, low power consumption, and multi-point monitoring. This minimizes interference from external environmental factors and ensures long-term stability. As a result, the recorded data is more precise and reliable, which has helped sustain the product's strong sales performance."
Currently, it is peak season for fruits and vegetables from Xinjiang, and the long transportation distances make temperature control especially important. "Xinjiang fruits are naturally high in sugar and particularly sensitive to temperature. To ensure safe delivery, some of our customers now include temperature and humidity reports in their contracts as a basis for liability and claims, clearly defining responsibilities. Upon arrival, staff immediately read the data to confirm that cold chain standards have been met. This practice also motivates logistics providers to prioritize temperature management throughout the entire journey."
Tina added that when fruit damage does occur during transportation, temperature and humidity records can help identify the specific stage of the process where problems arose.
In terms of operation, Tina noted that the logger can be used without removing the outer packaging. "The outer plastic case is waterproof and also protects the logger from damage, which could otherwise result in unexpected power outages or shutdowns."
Looking ahead, Tina shared her plans to attend Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong this September and Fruit Attraction in Madrid this October. "We'll be showcasing our products at both events and meeting with new and existing customers. We're also eager to hear user feedback, whether about desired features or product ideas, so that we can provide more comprehensive solutions and supply chain support."
Fresh-Key specializes in IoT-based cold chain monitoring solutions for post-harvest fruit transportation. Its core products include disposable USB temperature loggers and 4G real-time temperature and humidity monitoring devices, with additional new products currently under development.