GRAPEVINE, Texas – Sunrise Fla.-based Delina Fresh is selectively using more air freight options to combat port delays for ocean shipments of exotic produce bound for the U.S.
“One thing we found is that, since the boats were getting held up at the ports and there was [a limited shelf life], so we just started flying [produce] over,” said Jim Burnette, sales director for the company. While freight costs increase a couple of dollars per package with air freight, quality and shelf life are improved.
The firm, founded in 1998, has warehouses in McAllen, Texas, and Miami. Burnette said the company brings jackfruit from Mexico, ginger from Brazil, turmeric from Thailand and Fiji, yucca from Costa Rica, dragon fruit from Ecuador, mameys from Florida, cherimoya from California and more.
For both ocean shipments and air freight, the company is equipped to pack quality exotic produce, he said.
“We bring (produce) to our facility there and we sort them through and take out all the bad stuff that has been sitting on a boat for three weeks and just send grade A to the supermarkets,” he said.
