Ideas needed for shipping frozen food

[VoteDemocratic2004]

My friend is out of work and I am shipping a food package to him.

I bought a Styrofoam cooler to go down in the box and couple of the ice packages that I have frozen. I can't buy dry ice here or I would put that in instead.

The package is going to take about 40 hours to get to its destination.

Do you think that the food will stay frozen?

Can I put some fresh produce in the box (pineapple, tomatoes, salad mix) or would that go bad immediately?

Any ideas for shipping 70 pounds worth of food would be greatly appreciated.

I can't go over 70 pounds or they won't do the shipping.

I can only thank Bush for this "great" economy.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Why not just send gift certificates to a grocery store?

[VoteDemocratic2004]

2. We don't have the same grocery stores

I could send him a Walmart gift certificate but he will not go to Walmart.

[rawtribe]

4. you could buy online

and let them do the shipping.

http://www.diamondorganics.com/

[VoteDemocratic2004]

11. I am dealing with a man that will not admit he is broke

He admitted to me that he had $6.00 dollars left in his bank account and no way to pay his rent.

I am paying his rent this month also.

I didn't know that he was broke until I tried to call him and his phone was disconnected.

I don't think that he has ever been broke before in his life and he is very :scared:

[The empressof all]

3. It is really not cost effective without the dry ice

Those little blue ice things are very heavy and you would need far too many to keep things cold let alone frozen.

I think fruit would ship ok as long as it is not ripe when you send it but I sure would not chance anything like meat or dairy products.

I agree with the poster above---Send money or gift certificate. Or if you want it to be more personalized go to a food supplier yourself on line and let a professional pack it for you.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

12. Where do you get dry ice at?

I have called around and no one seems to carry it.

[democracyindanger]

13. Try Baskin-Robbins

or any other ice cream parlor. I know for sure they used to sell it; but that was a long time ago.

[SOteric]

25. You can get dry ice at the seafood departments of most

larger grocery chains (Kroger, Safeway, etc.) But you don't want to ship all of the things you've mentioned in a cooler. The pineapple and tomatoes should be shipped and stored at room temperature, as should citrus fruits. Exposing most fruits and vegetables to dry ice will 'carbonate' them and speed their decomposition.

There are many products available which will assist your friend that do not require refrigeration. I have to recommend you look into tins of tuna, chicken (even whole chickens come tinned) or the foil pouches so popular these days. If you want to add some fresh produce, call your local florist and have a gift basket of fruits sent over, - with some sort of "Thanks for your advice" type message that will make the gift more palatable given his pride.

[Mr Bojangles]

5. You could ship it UPS, but I'm a little biased ;)

They handle packages over 70lbs.

Dry ice is definitely the way to go. I load boxes for UPS, and even at 1am, the warehouse is an oven. Stuff that's packed in regular ice, even if it makes it through the warehouse, the back of the truck is even worse for heat. If you can't do that, then only ship dry goods. Perhaps your friend should bite the bullet and go to Walmart if you send them a gift card. Walmart food is better than no food.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

14. I bought some of the little bags and froze them

All of the meat is frozen solid.

Do you think that it will hold up even if it does weigh more?

[SoCalDem]

6. DON'T...

Send them money...or go online and find locations of stores in their neighborhood..

If necessary, make a long distance call and talk to a store manager.. You could mail a check and get gift certificates.or they migth even have online services for this..

or if you have someone in the community who knows them, send them the money and have them shop locally if you want it anonymously given.. The other people could just leave a box on their porch..

[VoteDemocratic2004]

8. He won't take it he is too proud

I found lunch meat on sale yesterday for $1.20 with a coupon for a $1.00 off and I bought him 20 packages plus some steaks, hamburger, polish sausage, ham, good hot dogs, frozen burgers and some beef stew meat.

I will only include half of the meat to see if it makes it and then if it does I will ship the rest out in a couple of weeks when he needs more food.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

16. I don't know anyone in his hometown

He doesn't have any relatives either.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

7. UPS is charging me $20.00 to ship the box

I offered him a gift card that I had from Walmart and he wouldn't take it.

I bought him $150.00 bucks worth of groceries which consists of can goods, 5 lbs velveta cheese, coffee, creamer, huge bags of cereal, various crackers, dry milk, soup, cookies, and candy.

He is going to go crazy because he doesn't like dry soup mix but he will have to deal with it.

I also bought him a fresh pineapple, banannas, and apples because they had them on sale by me.

[newscaster]

9. Do like the Omaha Steaks guys do.

My daughter sent me some steaks for father's day. They came in a styrofoam cooler, packed with dry ice. All the way from Nraska to California and they were frozen rock solid.

[newscaster]

10. sorry

make that NEBRASKA

[flamingyouth]

15. I have lots of experience in this

I used to work for a company that shipped frozen fish all over the country.

You need:

A styrofoam cooler box (check)

At least two gel-ice packets (better than dry ice)

A cardboard box that fits snugly around the aforementioned cooler

Sounds like you've got that covered.

We shipped everything by 2-Day FedEx, so it has a 48-window. Depending on the weather, the food is often partially thawed but can be refrozen by the recipient. This time of year, it may be completely thawed. Whatever you do, do NOT let the shipper take more than 2 days to ship. Only ship on Mondays and Tuesdays to avoid a possible weekend delay, which would mean that the food would be spoiled.

As for shipping produce, I don't have any expertise there. Good luck - I hope this works out well for you.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

17. I have to ship it UPS

They are the only ones that will pick the package up and I can't lift 70 pounds or I would take it myself.

I have 3 gel packages and they said that it would be there by Friday.

If he doesn't pick it up on Friday I will never speak to him again in my life.

They guarantee Friday delivery do you think that's trust able?

[flamingyouth]

18. It's a tough one - but they do have a guarantee

They are pretty reliable as a rule, but like I said, we only shipped early in the week to avoid the possible weekend hassle.

Is this not actually going to his house - does he have to go somewhere to pick it up? That might be a complication.

Hopefully this will all go well - I think it's very nice that you're doing this, and I totally understand the rationale behind it and why you weren't comfortable sending money or a gift card.:hi:

[VoteDemocratic2004]

19. I am shipping it to his PO Box

It's a UPS store.

[flamingyouth]

20. OK, multiple pleas for his attention are needed, then

Something subtle, like, "HEY, YOU, GO TO THE MAILBOX!!!" Good luck!:hi:

[VoteDemocratic2004]

22. If he doesn't go

I will never speak to him again in his life and he will have to fend for himself from here on out.

If UPS told me that they would guarantee that package to be delivered by Friday do you think that they will deliver it?

:hi:

[flamingyouth]

23. Like I always say:

GET IT IN WRITING :D

And again, good luck - you're a good friend.:D

[VoteDemocratic2004]

24. I wanted to stick a couple of beers in the box

Would they explode.

I know that I shouldn't but it would calm his nerves down.

Thank you.

[flamingyouth]

26. They shouldn't explode

Then again, I'm not a physicist. However, I did get an A in physics in high school.:D

:hi:

[thatgemguy]

21. Get a gift certificate or cash card

From your description a lot of what you want to ship may not make it to your friend in good condition. It would be a waste for both of you if what you ship arrives in inedible condition.

During the summer I would not send any frozen or refrigerated food.

The extra shipping costs for the weight of dry ice or ice is another negative factor. You and your friend would be better off if you took the money spent on shipping and added it to the value of a gift certificate or cash card.

Even shipping canned goods is simply not worth it.

Try to talk to your friend about taking advantage of any social service agencies or food banks in his area.

I now you said that he is too "proud" to ask for help, but if he is really in a crisis situation there are people who will assist him. He could even "volunteer" a little time at the food bank if he doesn't want to just take the food.

[amerikat]

27. where does your friend live?

Maybe some local DUer's could help out.