Harvesters completed a 22,000 square foot cold storage expansion at its metro distribution centre this month, roughly doubling capacity and removing the tightest constraint in its perishable supply chain.
Why cold storage was the bottleneck
The organisation receives a large share of its food as donated produce, dairy and protein from retailers. Under the old configuration it had 48 hours to move perishables out to partner agencies or lose them. That window forced routing decisions based on distance rather than need.
With the expansion, the same food can be held for up to two weeks, which means a donation arriving in Kansas City on a Tuesday can reach a rural pantry in the network the following week.
- New capacity: 22,000 square feet of cooler and freezer space
- Holding time for perishables: 48 hours to 14 days
- Estimated reduction in spoilage: 18% annually
- Partner agencies served: 760 across 26 counties
The demand side has not improved
The organisation distributed 61 million pounds of food in the last fiscal year, up from 54 million the year before. Its own client survey found that 38 percent of households receiving food include at least one person who is employed full time.
We are not feeding people who are out of work. We are feeding people who are working and still cannot make the month work.
A Harvesters programme director
The expansion was funded through a capital campaign that closed in September. The organisation says it has no further construction planned.
Danny Okafor
Danny writes about jobs, small business and the regional economy. He spent six years covering commercial real estate before joining the newsroom.
