Prioritize corridor access (BR-163), proximity to major production clusters, multimodal options (road, rail, river), and transit-time variability during harvest. Evaluate carrier density, container drayage routes to ports, and the 3PL's experience handling seasonal surges to control lead times and costs.

Lower land and facility costs versus coastal cities can reduce fixed overhead. Assess local labor availability for picking and cold-chain roles, ease of temporary hiring for peaks, and the 3PL’s ability to scale footprint and invest in automation to maintain service levels.

Require WMS/TMS connectivity, real-time inventory visibility, SLA reporting, capabilities for pick-and-pack, cross-docking, returns processing, and temperature-controlled storage if needed. Confirm APIs for order routing and the 3PL’s domestic carrier partnerships for final-mile execution.

Intermodal improvements shorten transit windows, but actual times depend on route (e.g., BR-163 to northern river ports vs. southern road routes to Santos). Work with 3PLs that model transit-time variability, offer reliable carrier contracts, and provide buffer inventory strategies to mitigate seasonal congestion.