Our Services

We’re your single-source solution for your produce cooling and logistics needs.

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PRODUCE pre-COOLING

During the growing season over 200,000 cartons of produce are cooled and shipped from our facilities daily, utilizing vacuum cooling tubes, hydro coolers, icing stations, and forced air pressure cooling rooms.

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Produce Handling & Cold Chain Process

Our experienced staff work cohesively to continually implement and monitor rigorous quality control procedures and food safety standards throughout the receiving, processing, and loading phases.

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Produce Pre-Cooling

From food safety to increased storage life, it’s widely recognized that pre-cooling produce is essential. By increasing the amount of time that food can be stored, it allows growers to market their products days, weeks, or even months after the harvest has passed, eliminating the need to sell directly after harvest. This is beneficial for high-volume growers as well as producers that need a great degree of flexibility.

CCC

At Central Coast Cooling (CCC), we continue to refine and improve our processes and systems as the industry leading pre-cooling and cooling 3PL provider to grower shippers in Salinas Valley, CA and Imperial Valley, CA. Whether your needs are seasonal or long-term, you can count on CCC to give you the stellar, solution-oriented service you deserve.

Pre-Cooling Methods

Different cooling methods may be applied to the same commodity. The most common cooling methods in commercial use are the following:

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Vacuum Cooling

Produce is placed in an airtight metal cylinder in which the atmospheric pressure is reduced. This leads to evaporation and the removal of field heat from the commodity.

Used for:

Leafy vegetables	Peas
Bok choy	Cauliflower
Cauliflower	Snap Beans
Leeks	Celery
Mushrooms	Spinach
Parsley	Cabbage
Brussels Sprouts	Sweet Corn
Carrots

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Hydro- Cooling

This method uses water to take up the heat from harvested produce. Cold or chilled water is sprayed on produce or the produce is submerged into it. Water should be able to flow through the produce rather than around it.

Used for:

Celery	Radish
Peas	Brussel Sprouts
Asparagus	Green Onions
Cabbage	Cantaloupe
Beet	Spinach
Cucumber	Kiwi Fruit
Broccoli	Squash
Eggplant	Carrot
Sweet Corn	Leek
Cassava	Orange
Melon	Cauliflower

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Ice Cooling

Ice Injectors are used in this method to force a mixture of ice and water directly into the packaged cartons of produce and cool the commodity through direct contact.

Used for:

Asparagus	Broccoli
Green Onions	Leafy Greens
Brussel Sprouts	Leeks
Cantaloupes	Parsley
Carrots	Peas
Sweet Corn	Chinese Cabbage

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Forced Air Cooling

The process of removing heat from produce by creating a pressure differential across the product. Uses fans to circulate, or force, cool air throughout the produce. By pulling the air through the produce, this helps minimize dehydration.

Used for:

Apricots	Apples
Avocados	Cauliflower
Beans	Bell Peppers
Broccoli	Brussel Sprouts
Carrots	Celery
Leaf Lettuce	Cabbage
Mushrooms	Peaches
Peppers	Potatoes
Spinach	Squash

Our Markets

Our primary markets are in Salinas Valley, CA and Imperial Valley, CA. CCC’s Salinas location services grower shippers in the heart of Salinas Valley in Monterey County, California, often referred to as the “Salad Bowl of the World.”

From 1916 until today, Salinas has been the major producer of many fruits and vegetables consumed around the country and the world. Ag Exports from Monterey County exceed 400 million pounds per year. In 2019, Monterey County’s Agriculture Production Value was approximately $4.41 billion.

In addition to our Salinas Valley Market, we also service grower shippers in Imperial Valley, California from our El Centro facility.

Thousands of acres of prime farmland have transformed Imperial Valley into one of the most productive farming regions in California. The gross agriculture production for 2019 was valued at over $2 billion, and Imperial County was ranked second in the state for California’s lettuce production.

Food Safety

Certification

Central Coast Cooling is a proud participant in Primus Food Safety certification and our team continues to meet all Organic compliance requirements.

Cooling and Shipping

With strict food safety protocols in place, there is over 27 million units of produce cooled and shipped from our facilities daily, utilizing vacuum cooling tubes, hydro coolers, icing stations, and forced air pressure cooling rooms.

CCC operates four separate pre-cooling and cold storage facilities. Three of these coolers are located in Salinas Valley, CA on a 28-acre campus with 35 refrigerated loading bays, 17 pressure cooler tunnels, 9 vacuum tubes, 5 high volume ice injection stations, and an ice supply capacity of more than 2,000 tons per day. CCC also has a full-service cooler operation located in Imperial Valley, CA.