---
title: "Reefer setpoint and storage life · BuiltByEstrada"
description: "Pick a commodity to see the USDA storage temperature, humidity and storage life, a setpoint in °F and °C, and the days it has left."
url: "https://builtbyestrada.ai/tools/reefer-setpoint-storage-life/"
lang: "en"
---

# Reefer setpoint and storage life

Free tool · Produce

Pick a commodity to see the storage temperature, humidity and storage life from USDA Agriculture Handbook 66, with a suggested setpoint in °F and °C. Type the days it has been in storage to see the days left and whether to sell it first.

Suggested setpoint

43 °F (6.1 °C)

Status

Sell now

Days left

3 days

Storage range

41 to 45 °F (5.0 to 7.2 °C)

Humidity

85 to 95%

Storage life

21 days

Chilling sensitive

Yes

On the FDA Food Traceability List

No

Handbook note

Early season 41 to 45 °F, late season 40 to 42 °F. Quality drops after 3 to 4 weeks. Handbook page 216.

An estimate for planning. Check the numbers with your accountant before you decide.

## How the math works

Setpoint = the middle of the storage range in USDA Agriculture Handbook 66, rounded to the nearest half degree °F. °C = (°F − 32) × 5 ÷ 9.

Days left = storage life − days in storage. Life used = days in storage ÷ storage life. At 50% used the status turns to watch, at 75% to sell now, and at 100% to past storage life, the same flags as the cold storage log.

Chilling sensitive items can be hurt by cold above freezing, so keep them out of rooms set lower. Items on the FDA Food Traceability List need FSMA 204 lot records when you receive and ship them.

Source: USDA Agriculture Handbook 66, The Commercial Storage of Fruits, Vegetables, and Florist and Nursery Stocks, revised February 2016. Your buyer’s specs, the variety and the time in transit can change these numbers.