Avocado supplier protects its cargo from theft with GO Real-Time Trackers by Emerson

Mexico is the number one avocado producer globally. The state of Michoacán supplies 45 percent of the international avocado market. La Bonanza Avocados, an important link in the avocado supply chain located in Uruapan Michoacán, comprises a significant part of the country’s total exports. Locally, this fruit is known as “green gold,” and for this reason, it is an attractive target for organized crime cartels.

Theft of avocado is a real concern for producers. In the last 10 years, avocado exports to the U.S. have quadrupled. This is why avocado truck shipments to the U.S became a target for thieves.

Due to this, La Bonanza has to protect its shipments from theft and tampering, considering the fact this perishable product should be kept at a certain temperature to maintain its quality and optimize ripeness.

Obed Sanchez, Foreign Trade Manager for La Bonanza, explains that from the time the shipping trucks left Uruapan to when it arrived at the border of the United States, it was complicated to prevent the theft of their trucks. The company has experienced several truck thefts over the span of a few years, sometimes even multiple trucks in one day. 

Since 2016, La Bonanza has been using GO Real-Time Trackers and Oversight software portal by Emerson, to monitor in-transit shipments of avocados to the United States. 

This enabled it to track the location of cargo and to validate that avocados were being kept at appropriate temperatures.

However, there was still the potential for thieves to disrupt shipping routes and to steal trucks, and the management team of La Bonanza had to find a reliable strategy to prevent thefts. This is why Sanchez said that they would rely on the Oversight portal to determine location of stolen trucks in real time. 

Sanchez added that during repeated incidents, their ability to rapidly locate stolen trucks via the Oversight portal led to the quick identification of truck locations and recovery of their produce. And since there is no way to prevent these crimes from happening in the future, La Bonanza has a good opportunity to bring criminals to justice and to recover their losses. 

La Bonanza also ships avocados throughout the United States from its distribution center in Mission, Texas, whose delivery can take up to 15 days. The company utilizes the GO Real-Time Trackers and Oversight portal to observe shipment location and arrival schedules, and to be sure that avocado temperatures stay at the preferred range of 38-42 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Being able to preserve the freshness of each shipment is essential for the company. As Sanchez commented, with the real-time visibility and ability to verify temperatures during each shipment, they are better equipped to optimize food quality and respond to customer demands.

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For more information about La Bonanza, follow the link