International Requirements for Cooling Systems in The Storage and Transportation of Organic Fruits and Vegetables

Organic fruit and vegetable products are evaluated in international markets not only according to their quality and food safety, but also according to the preservation of their organic status. When harvested produce remains at high temperatures for an extended period, its respiration rate increases, water loss becomes greater, and its commercial value declines. For this reason, a cooling system is not merely a technical facility for keeping products “cold”; it is part of the export chain that directly affects the economic outcome of the product. This article analyzes international requirements for cooling systems used in the storage and transportation of organic fruits and vegetables based on FAO, Codex Alimentarius, UNECE ATP, European Union regulations on organic production, and the United States National Organic Program requirements. Comparative analysis, documentary analysis, and a systematic assessment of agrologistics processes were used in the study. The results indicate that the efficiency of the cold chain is determined not only by temperature, but also by pre-cooling, relative humidity, air circulation, sanitation, monitoring, the technical condition of transport vehicles, and the protection of organic product identity. Under Uzbekistan’s conditions, the development of digital temperature monitoring and refrigerated transport systems compliant with ATP requirements is particularly relevant for export-oriented organic fruit and vegetable production.