How a USME order moves.
Every shipment is different. The process below is the spine — what we do on every order, in roughly the same sequence, regardless of product, lane, or buyer.
Inquiry & specification
The buyer tells us what they need — product, variety, grade, sizing, pack style, label or branding requirement, target volume, destination airport, shipment window. The more specific the brief, the better the quote.
Sourcing & feasibility check
We check the spec against current U.S. vendor capacity, harvest stage, and air-lane availability. We confirm whether the window is realistic and flag anything that needs to flex — origin region, variety substitute, pack adjustment, window shift.
Quote
We issue a written quote against firm vendor pricing and a defined air lane. Quotes include product spec, pack, FCA or CIF terms as agreed, payment terms, and validity window. We don't quote on price we can't deliver against.
Purchase order & vendor confirmation
On acceptance, we confirm the order with the vendor in writing, lock the packout window, and align on pre-shipment quality expectations. The buyer receives PO confirmation and an indicative packout date.
Pre-shipment & packout
The vendor packs to the agreed spec. Where the buyer or program requires it, we coordinate pre-shipment QC or third-party inspection. Pack date, lot codes, and pack-out details are recorded as part of the file.
Cold storage & trucking to airport
Packed product moves through cold storage or direct refrigerated trucking to the origin airport against the airline's tender cut-off. Cool-room dwell at the airport is monitored, not assumed.
ULD build-up & airline tender
Product is built onto PMC or LD7 ULDs at the airline's perishable handling center, against airline acceptance procedures. We confirm temperature settings, dry-ice or gel-pack supplementation where required, and securement before tender.
Export documentation
In parallel with the physical move, we coordinate the document set — commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, phytosanitary, air waybill, and destination-specific documents — engaging licensed brokers and inspection agencies as required.
Departure & in-transit visibility
Once tendered and lifted, the buyer receives the AWB, departure confirmation, and expected arrival window. We track the flight and flag material delays or routing changes promptly.
Arrival & handoff
Documents are released to the buyer or the buyer's clearance agent ahead of arrival per the agreed terms. We support the handoff at destination — answering questions for the clearance team and handling vendor follow-ups.
Post-shipment
We review what happened on the shipment internally and with the buyer where useful — what worked, what didn't, what we'd adjust next time. That feedback feeds the next program window.
This is the standard process. Buyers with established programs sometimes operate on a lighter touchpoint cadence.
Buyers shipping a first container with us get the full version — by design. We'd rather over-communicate at the start of a relationship than learn at the second shipment that an expectation was unspoken.
Start with an inquiry.
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