I know if things are shipped need to be protected from the elements, but this is not entirely always possible. Methods of shipping also might affect things. Also as a side question, could these environmental changes to the products, actually improve them in some way? 

When answering this question, keep in mind that environmental factors don't necessarily mean weather related. They could be such things as insects/ animals, heat/ humidity (affecting it indirectly), as well as plants/ seeds.