Transport and Handling of Carnations Cut in the Bud Stage -- Potential Advantages

Excerpts from the report: Detailed information on costs of transportation and other steps in the physical distribution of carnations is not readily available. The industry relies mainly upon estimates. One factor that has an important bearing on transport and handling costs is the density (ratio of weight to volume) of the product. Carnations are relatively low in density and, as packed for shipment, occupy more space for a given weight than do many other products. Costs for the physical handling of a product generally can be decreased if ways can be found to increase the product's density. The objectives of the present research was to assess the potential economies and the advantages and disadvantages of handling and shipping carnation buds in actual commercial operations. All steps in handling buds that were different in any way from the steps in handling open flowers were analyzed