The ice cream industry is credited with the successful creation of the first mechanically refrigerated truck in 1925. This type of heavy equipment has applications beyond the neighborhood ice cream truck. Refrigerated trailers and trucks are important pieces of agricultural equipment. When the produce is shipped over a distance of more than a day, or when the weather is warm, the produce needs to be kept cool so as to not spoil. Supermarket shoppers want fruit and vegetables that look vibrant and fresh, not wilted.

It is no secret that fruits and vegetables prefer clement weather to thrive. Some types of produce will only grow in these types of environments. The issue that presents itself is reconciling the distance between where the finicky produce grows and the willing consumer. This issue is where a special piece of heavy equipment steps up. To deliver high quality products, farmers and supermarket conglomerates would do well to consider the importance of getting from Point A to Point B.

Due to most types of produce favoring mild climes, it is no surprise that the Caribbean and Latin America make up 24% of the entire world’s cultivatable land, and together produce about 11% of its food production. Perhaps related to those numbers are these: in 2010 there were roughly 4 million refrigerated trucks on the road. It is more likely that a large supermarket chain would have a fleet of these pieces of heavy equipment, but it is available to others to purchase if needed. The average starting price of a new refrigerated truck is $60,000.

There is some dispute on whether the farmer or the grocery store should worry about the transporting of the produce to be sold. It depends on the agreement between the buyer and the producer.