Pallet Flow Rack and Cooler Racking in Rio Rico, AZ
Pallet flow rack in Rio Rico, AZ is sized for the refrigerated produce warehouses lining the I-19 East Frontage Road. Flow racking keeps fruit and vegetables rotating first in, first out, which is the whole job in a cooler.
Clear heights here run low, so depth does the work that height does in Tucson's new big boxes.
Racking for 10–20 ft Clear Produce Coolers
Refrigerated warehouses on the frontage road typically run about 10–20 ft clear, in masonry and metal buildings with 10 to 14 dock positions. Some sections are already set up for racked storage; others still floor-stack.
At 16–20 ft, two or three pallet levels is the realistic limit. To gain positions, we go deeper, not higher, and every cold room gets cold-rated components.

Flow Through Racking, Pushback and Drive-In Compared
Pallet flow loads at the back and picks at the front, so rotation takes care of itself. It costs more per position but saves labor and spoilage on dated produce.
Pushback rack stores two to six deep from one aisle, LIFO by lane, for growers whose product turns before it ages.
Drive in rack is densest of all, for a handful of SKUs arriving by the truckload. We usually draw two of the three on the same floor plan so you can compare positions.
Rio Rico Industrial Park and South Industrial
Rio Rico Industrial Park and the 35-acre Rio Rico South Industrial project, with lots of 3–13 acres, are zoned light industrial and distribution, mostly for produce tenants. A produce cooling and logistics operator added a 200,000 SF facility in the industrial park in 2023, minutes from the Mariposa crossing.
The frontage road between Ruby Rd and Rio Rico Dr is the only access to this warehouse district, so deliveries are timed to avoid the produce truck peaks.
Selective Rack for Packaging and Supplies
Boxes, clamshells, pallets and labels still need a home. Selective pallet racks in the dry part of the building keep packaging close to the packing line.
Experienced installation crews we schedule and manage handle cooler and dry installs, anchored to the floor. Neighbors in Nogales use the same approach; moving rooms is covered by our warehouse relocation service.
Laying Out Flow Racking in a Frontage-Road Cooler
Masonry and metal buildings on the frontage road were not always built with rack in mind. Columns, evaporators and door spacing often decide where lanes can run.
We measure lane length from the receiving face to the pick face, then fit as many lanes as the room width allows after aisles. Each lane holds one SKU, so SKU count drives lane count.
Heavier produce pallets need brakes spaced closer together; lighter pallets need enough pitch to keep rolling. We ask for both ends of the weight range before drawing.
The itemized quote breaks out frames, rollers, brakes, separators, freight and installation, with lead time confirmed for each high-density part. Install crews work around your receiving windows.
Dry Storage Next to the Cooler
Dry rooms beside the cooler often hold empty pallets and packing material on the floor. A few rows of wire-decked selective rack there free up the dock apron during peak season.
Flow Racking System Options and More
Send Us Your Cooler Dimensions
Call (520) 335-3953 or use the form.
Produce Warehouse Questions
Nearby Service Areas
Rotate Produce Without the Labor
Free layout. Itemized quote.