Operational details for this market
Which compliance standards apply?
FSMA Section 204 traceability supported on every food-grade load; pallet ID linked to the lumber lot, kiln batch, and dispatch ticket in our chain-of-custody database.
Florida regulatory context
Citrus packers operating in Florida's three citrus belts (Indian River, Polk County, Highlands County) require Florida-specific phytosanitary documentation; we coordinate with the Florida Citrus Mutual office for compliant freight.
Florida Department of Agriculture inspects pallet treatment facilities under the federal cooperative inspection agreement; our Tampa and Jacksonville locations are stamp-authorized facilities.
What are the pallet specifications?
Lumber spec for new GMA stock: mixed hardwood (oak, maple, ash, hickory) with minimum 600 SG (specific gravity); kiln dried to <19% moisture; visible defects limited to wane on outer 1/3 of deck board only.
Recycled-Grade A pallets meet 48x40 GMA spec with cosmetic wear only; no broken boards, no replaced stringers, all original GMA stamp visible; suitable for primary food-grade and pharmaceutical loads.
Delivery and logistics
Buyback programs pay current market rate for returned pallets in Grade A condition; minimum 50 pallets per pickup; integrated with our recycling stream for sustainability reporting.
Customer use case
Cold storage facilities (Plant City corridor) use HDPE plastic pallets that wash down at 180F; suitable for USDA Grade A dairy plants and frozen-protein operations; we lease as well as sell.
How are these pallets priced?
Lumber index pricing: we benchmark against the Random Lengths southern yellow pine #2 index for hardwood-blend spec; updates monthly; standing-order pricing protects against +/-15% market swings.
Sustainability
Lumber sourcing prioritizes regional Southeast US hardwood mills (FL, AL, GA, MS); reduces transport carbon vs Pacific Northwest stock; supports regional logging economies.
