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Portable Hydrocoolersfor the First Miles of Your Cold Chain
Portable tunnel and batch hydrocoolers that pull out field heat fast at the ranch or field yard, so your fruit reaches cold storage at the right temperature on time.
Why Portable Hydrocooling?
Every cherry and fruit operation talks about "the cold chain," but the real driver of quality is how quickly fruit first gets cold after harvest.
The problem is the "hot gap": the 2–8 hours that can pass between picking and first cooling when fruit sits warm in the field, at collection centers, or on trucks. During this time, respiration accelerates, firmness drops, and shelf life shortens—before the fruit even reaches the packhouse.
Portable hydrocoolers move the first deep cooling step closer to where fruit is picked, so the cold chain truly starts at the ranch instead of only at the packhouse. By removing field heat within the first few hours, you protect quality from the beginning and set up every downstream step for success.
Time and Temperature Targets for Heat-Sensitive Crops
Where Portable Hydrocooling Fits in Your Operation
Portable hydrocoolers address real operational challenges across different harvest and handling scenarios
Remote Ranches and Long Hauls
- Place portable hydrocoolers at ranches or field collection centers
- Cool fruit from around 80°F / 27°C down into the 30s°F / low single digits °C before transport
- Reduce the cooling load and risk when fruit finally reaches the plant
Hot Midday Harvests
- Set portable hydrocoolers in shaded yards to strip out field heat from bins picked during the hottest part of the day
- Protect stem and fruit quality when temperature and vapor pressure deficit are highest
Export and Long Storage Programs
- Use portable hydrocooling as the first deep cooling step so export fruit hits storage just above its freezing point quickly
- Help extend shelf life and reduce rejections at distant or premium markets
Mixed Varieties and Special Lots
- Use batch-style portable hydrocoolers with multiple zones to handle small, high-value lots without disrupting main tunnels
- Offer tailored handling for organic programs, trial blocks, or key customers
Portable Hydrocoolers: Tunnel or Batch, Depending on Your Flow
CTC builds both tunnel and batch hydrocoolers, and either can be configured as portable units on skids or trailers. The choice is about throughput and flexibility, not whether it can be portable.
Portable Tunnel Hydrocoolers
- Conveyorized, high-throughput hydrocooling with bins moving steadily through the tunnel
- Ideal for large ranches, centralized field yards, or operations with steady bin traffic
- Can be deployed as field-side units during harvest and then tied into the main packhouse system the rest of the season
Portable Batch Hydrocoolers
- Zoned batch units that cool stacks of bins at a time
- Individually controlled zones to run different varieties, blocks, or customers in parallel
- Lower capital cost than a full conveyor tunnel and highly flexible for mixed lots, smaller sites, and trial programs
The same designs are also available as stationary packhouse hydrocoolers when portability is not required. For a full overview, see our Hydrocoolers page.
How Portable Hydrocooling Fits in the Cold Chain
Harvest in the Orchard
Fruit is picked and moved to nearby shaded yards or collection centers
Portable Hydrocooler at Ranch or Yard
Portable tunnel or batch hydrocooler removes field heat within the first few hours
Haul to Packhouse
Fruit travels already cooled into the 30s°F / low single digits °C, relieving pressure on packhouse tunnels
Packhouse Hydrocooling & Cold Storage
Stationary hydrocoolers trim temperature to final targets; cold rooms hold fruit near 32–34°F / 0–1°C
Transport to Market
A stable cold chain maintains quality through shipping and retail
Portable hydrocooling doesn't replace packhouse hydrocoolers; it sets them up for success by bringing fruit into the system already cold. This reduces the load on central cooling infrastructure and improves quality across the board.
Filtration and Water-Treatment Options
Portable hydrocoolers often run on different water sources—well, canal, or municipal—and maintaining clean water is important for cooling performance and equipment life.
CTC can integrate filtration and treatment options into portable units. We work with your team and food safety team to design systems that fit your water quality and operational requirements.
Common Integration Options:
- Inline filtration to protect spray nozzles and keep heat-transfer surfaces clean
- Options for sand, screen, or pressure filters depending on water quality
- Integration of additional treatment steps (such as UV units or chemical dosing) where customers require them, in coordination with their food safety team
How We Design a Portable Hydrocooling Plan
Every ranch and packing program is different, so we start with your actual harvest and haul realities.
Peak bins per hour or tons per hour from each ranch or block
Typical and worst-case temperatures during picking and hauling
Distance and travel time between ranches, collection centers, and the packhouse
Varieties, programs, and lots that need special handling
Where it makes the most sense to park a tunnel vs a batch unit
Whether units need to move during the season
From there, we propose a portable hydrocooler configuration and work with your refrigeration partner to hit your time-to-cool targets.
Trusted by Leading PNW Cherry Growers
For decades, the region's top cherry producers have relied on CTC Waterworks hydrocoolers to maximize quality and shelf life.
Refrigeration Partners
We work closely with these trusted refrigeration companies, but are happy to collaborate with any refrigeration provider you prefer.
Take Minutes Out of the Gap Between Harvest and First Cooling
Removing field heat quickly in the first 2–4 hours often has more impact on cherry quality than extra days of storage.
Portable hydrocoolers let growers start their cold chain at the ranch instead of only at the packhouse, protecting quality from the moment fruit is picked.
Want the technical deep dive? Read our article: Minutes Matter: Why Early Hydrocooling Makes or Breaks Cherry Quality
For a full overview of all hydrocooler configurations, visit our Hydrocoolers and Cherry Hydrocoolers pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the same portable hydrocooler be used at the ranch and at the packhouse?
Yes. Many units are configured for field-side use during harvest and then parked as part of packhouse flow the rest of the season. This gives you maximum flexibility and return on investment across different phases of your operation.
What power and utilities do portable hydrocoolers need?
Requirements depend on size and refrigeration design. CTC works with you and your refrigeration contractor to define electrical service, water supply, and drainage needs based on your specific configuration and site conditions.
How do I know if I need a tunnel or batch portable hydrocooler?
High, steady volumes point to tunnel configurations, while varied or smaller lots lean toward batch systems. Talk with CTC to review your bins per hour, variety mix, and layout - we'll help you match the right configuration to your operation.
Can portable hydrocoolers work for crops other than cherries?
Yes. Portable hydrocoolers are also used for other stone fruit, berries, grapes, and other heat-sensitive crops. Cooling settings and cycle times are tailored crop-by-crop to hit the right temperature targets without damaging delicate fruit.