Agriculture & Farming
The Central Valley grows food for the world. We supply the pallets that move it.
Agricultural Pallet Quote
Seasonal or year-round, we have the inventory for your operation.
Built for the Farm
Agriculture is the backbone of the Central Valley, and pallets are the backbone of agricultural logistics. From stone fruit in Kern County to almonds in Tulare, every crop needs reliable pallets for packing, storage, and shipping. Kern County alone generates over $7 billion in annual agricultural revenue, making it one of the most productive farming regions on Earth.
Bakersfield Pallet Co. was founded by Garrett Caldwell with a deep appreciation for the agricultural community that defines this region. Agriculture accounts for approximately 40% of our total pallet volume, and our entire operation is structured around the seasonal rhythms that drive Central Valley farming. We understand that a packinghouse running at full capacity during harvest season cannot afford to wait for pallets.
Our Operations Manager, Oakley Thorne, coordinates agricultural accounts to ensure that pre-season inventory builds align with each customer's projected harvest timeline. We begin ramping up inventory for citrus and stone fruit customers months before their first picking date, so pallets are staged and ready when harvest begins.
We understand the seasonal nature of agriculture. During harvest season, demand spikes and timing is critical. Our inventory management ensures we have the pallets you need, when you need them — even during the busiest weeks of the year. For customers who operate year-round processing facilities, such as almond and pistachio processors, we maintain standing weekly delivery schedules that run 52 weeks a year.
Agricultural Applications
Produce Packing
Standard 48x40 pallets for boxes, crates, and bins. Grade A for direct-to-retail shipments. We maintain dedicated inventory for packinghouses that need clean, consistent pallets during peak harvest.
Field Bins
Heavy-duty pallets for large field bins weighing up to 1,200 lbs. Custom sizes available for specialty crops. Reinforced stringer construction withstands forklift handling in uneven field conditions.
Cold Storage
Moisture-resistant pallets suitable for cooler and cold storage environments. Selected for dimensional stability in temperatures as low as 28 degrees Fahrenheit. No warping, no mold growth.
Export Shipping
ISPM-15 heat-treated pallets for international agricultural exports. Essential for California almonds, pistachios, and citrus shipped to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Nursery & Greenhouse
Lightweight pallets for plant trays, soil bags, and greenhouse supplies. Sized to fit standard nursery tray footprints and compatible with greenhouse trolley systems.
Bulk Grain & Seed
Reinforced pallets for heavy bags of seed, grain, and animal feed. Full-deck construction prevents bags from sagging between boards. Load ratings up to 3,000 lbs static.
Wine & Table Grape Operations
Clean Grade A pallets for vineyard operations shipping fresh table grapes and bottled wine. Special attention to splinter-free surfaces for delicate grape packaging.
Of our volume serves agriculture
Rush order turnaround in season
Farm and packing operations served
Months of agricultural coverage
Central Valley Crop Calendar & Pallet Requirements
The Central Valley produces over 250 different crops, each with unique harvest timing and pallet specifications. Below is a detailed breakdown of the major crops we support, their peak seasons, and the pallet types each requires. This calendar drives our inventory planning and ensures we never run short during critical harvest windows.
Citrus (Oranges, Lemons, Mandarins)
48x40 GMA, Grade A
Kern County is a major citrus producer. Cold storage pallets required for post-harvest cooling. Export shipments require ISPM-15 treatment.
Table Grapes
48x40 GMA, Grade A
Peak demand July through September. Grapes are temperature-sensitive; pallets must be compatible with forced-air cooling systems.
Almonds
48x40 standard, Grade A/B
California produces 80% of the world's almonds. Post-harvest processing and storage require pallets year-round. Export volumes require heat-treated pallets.
Pistachios
48x40 standard, Grade A/B
Kern County is the top pistachio-producing county in the US. Processing facilities run year-round and require consistent pallet supply.
Carrots
48x40 GMA, Grade A
Bakersfield-area carrot farms produce year-round. Pallets must meet food contact standards for fresh produce distribution.
Potatoes
48x40 standard, Grade A/B
Heavy loads require pallets rated for 2,500+ lbs. Mesh or solid-deck options for storage ventilation.
Stone Fruit (Peaches, Nectarines, Plums)
48x40 GMA, Grade A
Extremely time-sensitive harvest. Rush pallet orders common during peak weeks. Pallets must be clean and splinter-free for delicate fruit.
Cotton
Custom heavy-duty
Module and bale pallets require heavy-duty construction. Non-food-grade pallets acceptable, reducing cost for growers.
Hay & Alfalfa
48x48 or custom
Bale weight requires reinforced pallets. Export hay to Asia-Pacific markets requires ISPM-15 compliance.
Wine Grapes
48x40 standard
Crush season creates concentrated demand. Wineries also need pallets year-round for bottled wine storage and distribution.
Seasonal Demand Management
Agricultural pallet demand in the Central Valley follows a predictable but intense seasonal pattern. Our pallet yard at 3240 Patton Way, Bakersfield, CA 93308 is strategically positioned to serve the dense concentration of packinghouses, cold storage facilities, and shipping operations throughout Kern County.
During peak summer months (June through September), when stone fruit, table grapes, and early nut harvests overlap, pallet demand can spike by 300% compared to winter months. We prepare for this surge starting in late winter, building inventory and securing additional delivery capacity to ensure no customer is left waiting during their most critical weeks.
Our seasonal management strategy includes pre-season inventory consultations with major accounts, where we review projected crop yields, anticipated shipping schedules, and export commitments. This allows us to pre-stage the right mix of grades and sizes at our facility, ready for rapid deployment.
For customers with unpredictable harvest timing — such as wine grape operations that depend on sugar content measurements (Brix levels) — we maintain a reserve pool of pallets that can be activated on 24-hour notice. Oakley Thorne personally manages these rush allocations during harvest season to ensure the fastest possible response.
Seasonal Planning Timeline
January - February
Pre-season consultations with agricultural accounts. Review projected crop volumes, pallet specifications, and delivery schedules for the coming season. Begin building inventory of Grade A and ISPM-15 treated pallets.
March - April
Inventory ramp-up accelerates. Standing orders activated for early-season crops including carrots and early citrus. Delivery routes confirmed and additional truck capacity secured for peak months.
May - June
Stone fruit season begins. Rush delivery capability active. Packinghouse customers begin drawing from pre-staged inventory. Weekly coordination calls with high-volume accounts.
July - September
Peak demand period. All agricultural inventory channels operating at full capacity. Table grapes, almonds, and stone fruit creating simultaneous demand. 24-hour rush delivery available.
October - November
Pistachio and late almond harvest. Cotton harvest begins. Transition from summer fruit pallets to nut and commodity pallets. Export shipping peaks for almonds and pistachios.
December
Citrus season ramps up. Post-harvest analysis with customers to review performance, identify improvements, and begin planning for next season.
Food Safety Considerations for Agricultural Pallets
Agricultural pallets that come into contact with fresh produce must meet increasingly stringent food safety standards. Wren Castellano, our Sustainability Director, oversees our food safety compliance program to ensure every pallet leaving our facility meets or exceeds regulatory requirements.
FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act)
The Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food rule requires that pallets used to transport food do not create food safety risks. Pallets must be clean, structurally sound, and free from contamination.
All food-contact pallets must be inspected for cleanliness, chemical contamination, and structural integrity before use.
ISPM-15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures)
Requires wood packaging materials used in international trade to be heat-treated or fumigated to prevent the spread of invasive pests. Pallets must bear the official ISPM-15 stamp.
All export agricultural pallets must be heat-treated to a core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes and properly stamped.
USDA Organic Handling Requirements
Organic produce must be protected from contact with prohibited substances. Pallets used for organic produce should not have been treated with chemical preservatives or used to transport prohibited substances.
We maintain a segregated inventory of organic-compatible pallets for certified organic operations.
Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)
GFSI-benchmarked schemes like SQF, BRC, and FSSC 22000 increasingly require documentation of pallet sourcing and condition as part of facility audits.
We provide batch documentation and inspection certificates for customers subject to GFSI audits.
Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI)
While primarily focused on product labeling, PTI best practices recommend tracking pallet lots as part of supply chain traceability for fresh produce recalls.
Our batch tracking system allows customers to trace pallets back to their source and inspection date.
Volume Data for Agricultural Operations
Typical pallet consumption by operation type in the Central Valley:
Small Family Farm (under 100 acres)
Medium Packinghouse
Large Packing Operation
Nut Processing Facility
Cold Storage / Distribution
Vineyard / Winery
Cost Optimization Strategies
Agricultural operations often run on thin margins, making pallet cost a meaningful line item in overall logistics expenses. At Bakersfield Pallet Co., we help growers and packers optimize their pallet spending without compromising quality or compliance.
Grade Matching
Not every application needs a Grade A pallet. Field operations, internal storage, and non-retail shipments can use Grade B or Grade C pallets at significantly lower cost. We help you match the right grade to each application.
Pallet Recovery Programs
We buy back your used pallets at the end of each season. This credit reduces your effective per-pallet cost and keeps usable pallets out of the waste stream. Our trucks pick up used pallets on the same routes we use for deliveries.
Pre-Season Volume Commitments
Customers who commit to seasonal volumes in advance receive preferential pricing and guaranteed inventory allocation during peak periods. This eliminates the risk of spot-market pricing spikes during harvest.
Mixed-Grade Orders
A single delivery can include multiple grades. For example, a packinghouse might receive Grade A pallets for their retail packing line and Grade B pallets for their field bin staging area, all on the same truck.
Reusable Pallet Programs
For operations that ship to consistent destinations (such as a packinghouse that always ships to the same distribution centers), we can set up a pallet return loop where pallets cycle back to us for refurbishment and redelivery.
Central Valley Farm Case Examples
Real results from agricultural operations we serve across Kern, Tulare, and Kings counties.
Kern County Almond Processor
Reduced annual pallet spend by 28% by implementing a dual-grade program: Grade A for retail and export shipments, Grade B for internal storage and local transfers. Annual savings exceeded $35,000.
Tulare County Table Grape Shipper
Eliminated harvest-season pallet shortages by establishing a pre-season volume commitment with dedicated inventory. Zero production delays across three consecutive harvest seasons.
Bakersfield Citrus Packinghouse
Consolidated three pallet vendors into one relationship with Bakersfield Pallet Co. Simplified procurement, improved quality consistency, and reduced per-pallet cost by 15% through volume consolidation.
Kings County Organic Vegetable Farm
Established an organic-compatible pallet program with full traceability documentation. Passed two consecutive SQF audits with zero pallet-related findings. Pallet costs remained within 5% of conventional pallet pricing.