An aerial view of the Wanwei Jiaxing Pinghu Cold Chain Industrial Park. [Photo/Tide News]

As blueberry season peaks, the Wanwei Jiaxing Pinghu Cold Chain Industrial Park in Pinghu county-level city, Jiaxing, is operating at full throttle.

Integrating pre-cooling, sorting, storage, and distribution, the facility handles 1.5 million metric tons of cold chain goods annually, spanning fruits, vegetables, and meat products. Its advanced automation enables peak processing of up to 300 tons per hour — eight times the efficiency of manual operations — while daily throughput reaches 10,000 tons.

Inside its automated cold storage, robotic systems manage warehousing with minimal human intervention. Stacker cranes precisely position pallets in subzero temperatures, reducing labor needs and boosting efficiency. Six conveyor stations streamline the movement of goods, while automated wrapping and sorting minimize manual handling.

The facility adopts smart technology for full-spectrum monitoring. Real-time digital displays track temperature and humidity, automatically adjusting conditions to meet food safety standards. Electronic tags on each batch store key details, from production dates to shelf life, enabling traceability. Automated warehouse and order management systems have improved product turnover by 40 percent while cutting fresh produce losses by 20 percent.

The facility boasts over 30,000 tons of storage capacity and serves a vast consumer base of 150 million across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. "Our reach extends throughout the Yangtze River Delta region, ensuring fresher products with greater efficiency," said a facility representative.