A method and apparatus for cooling produce contained in ventilated trays arranged in a five-down configuration on a pallet. The ventilated trays according to the present invention have openings that correspond to fluid passageways in contained clamshells in order to efficiently and effectively channel cooling air into the clamshells and over the contained produce. The present invention creates direct airflow channels to the produce that cause an optimal amount of the forced air to enter and flow over the produce within the produce carrying containers and not around the produce carrying containers as can occur with conventional six-down configurations. As a result, more air enters the produce carrying containers, more passes over the produce and more produce is effectively cooled.