Ports have vital role in transporting produce

The role North American seaports play in the U.S. produce industry can’t be overestimated.

Day in and day out, ports are there to make sure critical, time-sensitive cargo moves efficiently,” said Matt Wiggins, freight and infrastructure policy associate for the Washington, D.C.-based American Association of Port Authorities.

Keeping fresh produce cargos moving efficiently takes a concerted effort on the part of producers, shippers and terminal operators, sometimes with a little help from Congress.

The latter was demonstrated this year when, bolstered by funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a record $703 million to ports through the Port Infrastructure Development Program.

“The critical infrastructure projects made possible by this funding will support improvements aimed at ensuring supply chain resilience and fluidity,” Wiggins said.

Transporting fresh produce can be a challenge, since the process requires specialized equipment to provide refrigeration and specific storage areas, he said.

The Port of Oakland in California and Florida’s Jacksonville Port Authority, known as JAXPORT, both received PIDP awards this year totaling nearly $60 million for improvements to their cargo terminals, including refrigerated container operations, Wiggins said.

The need for specialized care and refrigeration extends to vessels themselves.

The reefer fleet operated by Geneva, Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) “is equipped with the technology you need to keep your fruit in perfect condition,” according to the company’s website.

“We use the cold treatment process as a chemical-free way to disinfect your fruit and protect it from pests,” the company says.

MSC containers feature controlled-atmosphere technologies to extend shelf life, and humidity sensors and controls prevent mold or dehydration, while vent settings ensure fresh air circulation, according to the website.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Dole Food Co. Inc. uses its own fleet of vessels to calls on ports in Wilmington, Del.; San Diego; Gulfport, Miss.; Freeport, Texas; and Tampa, Fla., said William Goldfield, director of corporate communications.

Dole’s primary imports are bananas, pineapples and plantains, nearly all of which are delivered from ports in Latin America.

Maximizing shelf life and product integrity is critical for fresh fruit and vegetables, so Dole strives to get produce off the port as quickly as possible, Goldfield said.

“Although bananas and pineapple have the ability to be held longer, most of the product we import is delivered or picked up by customers in the same week that it arrives at the port,” he said.

The Port of Los Angeles, a major agricultural port, has about 5,600 reefer plugs to power refrigerated units, said Marcel VanDijk, cargo marketing manager.

“This allows us to keep perishables on chassis at a terminal for fast delivery by truck to the local cold storage,” he said.

The port handles 360,000 to 450,000 metric tons of imported fruit and vegetables annually and 330,000 to 400,000 metric tons destined for export.

The main imported produce items are bananas and melons from Central America, grapes and stone fruit from South America and pineapples from the Philippines. 

Citrus, grapes, melons and stone fruit are the main exported produce commodities.

Fruit and vegetables arrive containerized on vessels on a weekly or even daily basis, he said. Communication between shippers and terminal operators is key to the movement of fresh produce at a terminal, according to VanDijk.

“When shippers engage with terminal operators, it builds relationships,” he said. “It helps terminal operators be aware of concerns and allows our terminals to service the industry better.”

Port operators play a vital role in keeping produce moving, Goldfield added.

“The most critical functions in the timely dispatch of product at the ports require skilled labor, sufficient and well-maintained equipment, and efficient custom processes,” he said. “Port operators can support produce shippers by ensuring these processes run smoothly.”