Senators urge shipping carriers to move California ag products

As a result of shipping delays, the California agricultural industry has lost $2.1 billion in exports between May and September 2021, according to a letter to 13 major shipping carriers from California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla.

Nearly 1.4 billion pounds of almonds, requiring more than 30,000 containers, need to be moved between now and July 31, 2022, the letter said. There are similar amounts for walnuts.

“We are deeply concerned that U.S. agricultural producers are unable to secure containers to export their products to market amid a looming global food shortage. We urge you to work with American agricultural exporters to immediately expand export opportunities,” the letter said. “We urge you to work with California agricultural producers to ensure their products, especially perishables, expeditiously get to export markets worldwide during this important season.”

Unlike nuts, perishable products do not have time to sit at ports. Containers have been shipping out of U.S. ports to Asia empty, leading to just such scenarios.

“These agricultural commodities have been significantly hampered in exporting their products because of container and equipment shortages, canceled bookings, and inadequate receiving windows,” the letter said.

The senators referenced a letter from several of California’s major agricultural producers noting that three out of four containers at U.S. ports are returning to Asia empty, resulting in a significant backlog of sold product in need of transportation.