Bridging the cold chain gap in India

MEER's team in India has begun exploring the growing challenges faced by informal fruit and vegetable vendors in Pune as rising temperatures make it increasingly difficult to keep fresh produce cool, fresh and saleable throughout the day.

As part of this work, the team is conducting field surveys and speaking directly with vendors in different parts of the city. These conversations are helping us understand how produce is sourced, transported, displayed and protected from the heat, as well as the everyday methods vendors already use to preserve freshness. The surveys are also examining the working conditions experienced by vendors, many of whom spend long hours outdoors with only limited access to shade or cooling.

Extreme heat can accelerate the deterioration of fruit and vegetables, reducing their quality and saleable life. For small-scale vendors operating on narrow margins, even modest levels of spoilage can affect household incomes and contribute to unnecessary food waste. Conventional refrigeration and cold storage may be unavailable, unaffordable or unsuitable for informal street-trading environments.

This project forms part of MEER's wider effort to investigate affordable, passive cooling approaches that could protect fresh produce without relying on energy-intensive refrigeration. Potential solutions could help reduce heat exposure during transportation and daytime selling while also improving vendors' own thermal comfort.

By listening to vendors and gathering evidence directly from the field, the MEER India team aims to identify where support is most needed and guide the development of solutions that are practical, accessible and appropriate for local conditions. This initial assessment will provide the foundation for future research and potential trials designed to reduce produce losses, support livelihoods and strengthen resilience to rising temperatures.