What signaled the industrial precursor to modern cold logistics?

Widespread adoption of mechanical refrigeration starting mid-1800s

The transition from relying on finite, naturally harvested cooling agents like ice to engineered solutions marked a major industrial shift in cold logistics. This critical change occurred with the widespread adoption of mechanical refrigeration systems, which began gaining traction around the mid-1800s. Initially, these powerful mechanical systems were implemented primarily in large-scale transportation methods, such as refrigerated rail cars and steamships. This adoption proved that consistent and measurable temperature control could be successfully maintained over very long distances for transporting large volumes of perishables like meat and produce across continents, setting the essential technological precedent for future advancements, even those targeting the final delivery stage.