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Before the invention of freezer compartments in the 1920s, people depended on ice, holes in the ground and window sills to extend the shelf life of perishable foods. After Upton Sinclair described the working conditions in Chicago’s meatpacking district in his book, The Jungle, public awareness regarding food safety and climate control significantly increased, leading to the Pure Food and Drug Act. When scientists identified that cool, sanitary conditions helped control the outbreak of food-related illnesses, healthier food processing followed. Thanks to continuing advances in climate control solutions and improvements in cold chain processes, modern food systems better ensure the safety and quality of the goods consumers eat and drink.

To reach store shelves, perishable items often embark on an extensive journey across states and even continents. Making this all possible are cold chain systems with uninterrupted series of cold storage and food distribution activities. The development of the system opened the doors to new markets in multiple industries, making it an export success. The U.S. food industry spends millions each year on moisture control and climate control solutions that allow businesses to prosper. As a result, cold chain systems are vital to global trade and the availability of food around the world.

Regions throughout the world are known for their particular crops because of their climate profiles. North America, for example, is a major producer of sugarcane, almonds and strawberries. Western Asia produces rye, barley and wheat. The Middle East grows saffron and cotton. Thanks to technological advances in horticulture and farming, crops no longer have to be limited to their native geographical locations, climates and seasons. A growing number of regions that depend on food imports are becoming more self-reliable with greenhouses that use temporary climate control solutions that mimic the conditions needed to produce a greater variety of crops. The technologies make food and other goods more abundant in regions affected by poor soil and water scarcity, and deliver seasonal crops to consumers year-round.

What draws consumers to fresh produce is also what makes it vulnerable to contamination, discoloration, desiccation, textural changes and nutritional losses. Conventional food processing methods help extend the shelf life of fresh goods, but may also introduce chemical preservatives that a growing number of consumers wish to avoid. By implementing the use of climate control solutions from the time workers harvest produce to the time grocers place it on their shelves, the goods will retain their quality in a more organic and marketable fashion.

In the baking industry, the right conditions give you a competitive advantage. The most successful bakeries have more than the right ingredients and skilled hands. They also use climate control solutions that ensure quality, high yields and the distinctive characteristics that customers seek in their goods. From cakes and crackers to pasta and bread, bakeries create diverse products that require specific ambient conditions for their successful preparation, storage and safe consumption.