Our Services

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

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.

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:​

Vacuum Cooling

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

 

Hydro- Cooling

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

 

Ice Cooling

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

 

Forced Air Cooling

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.

IMAGE GALLERY

Produce Pre-Cooling Process

CARTONS OF PRODUCE ON CONVEYOR EXITING VACUUM COOLING TUBE

INJECTING ICE INSIDE CARTONS OF PRODUCE

PRODUCE IS PLACED IN LARGE BAGS IN COLD STORAGE FACILITY

FORKLIFT PLACES PRODUCE INSIDE HYDROCOOLER

PRODUCE IS DRENCHED IN COLD SHOWER (HYDROCOOLER) TO EXTRACT HEAT

CARTONS OF VEGETABLES ON PALLETS HAVE BEEN INJECTED WITH ICE TO EXTRACT HEAT

CARTONS OF PRODUCE ON CONVEYOR ENTERING VACUUM COOLING TUBE

POWERFUL FANS DRAW COLD AIR THROUGH PALLETS OF PRODUCE TO EXTRACT HEAT

FORKLIFT LOADS CARTONS OF PRODUCE ON CONVEYOR FOR VACUUM COOLING

Produce Handling & Cold Chain Process

ONCE PRODUCE IS PRE-COOLED, FORKLIFTS TRANSFER CRATES TO TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED STORAGE FACILITY.

CRATES OF PRODUCE HAVE BEEN PRE-COOLED AND ARE STORED IN TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED WAREHOUSE UNTIL DELIVERED TO CUSTOMER.

UPON COMPLETION OF PRE-COOLING PROCESS, PRODUCE IS PLACED IN TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED STORAGE ROOM UNTIL DELIVERED TO CUSTOMER.

FORKLIFT TRANSPORTING PRODUCE FOR PRE-COOLING PROCESS

Contact Us

For more information or to set up a consultation with our CCC team, please contact us below via phone or email.

General Manager

Tel.: (831) 422-4765

Administration

Accounts Receivable & Accounts Payable

Tel.: (831) 422-6345

Human Resources & Safety

Tel.: (831) 422-5608

PO Box 1170

Salinas, CA 93902

Salinas Offices

CCC 1

1069 Growers Street

Salinas, CA 93901

Tel.: (831) 422-7265

CCC 2

1166 Growers Street

Salinas, CA 93901

Tel.: (831) 755-0134

CCC 4

1080 Growers Street

Salinas, CA 93901

Tel.: (831) 424-6440