GEORGIA Ports Authority participation in a US Department of Agriculture pilot programme will see the launch of fruit shipments from South America, previously trucked to southeastern markets, to Port of Savannah as of September 1.
Citrus fruit, grapes and blueberries will be chilled for at least 17 days prior to entry into the US to protect against fruit flies under the USDA pilot programme. The process will be done in producing countries, including Peru, Chile and Brazil, or at transshipment points such as Panama.
The fruit will move in refrigerated containers held just over freezing during transit aboard cargo vessels, effectively cutting the time the fruit must remain stationary for treatment.
"Bringing cold treatment to the Port of Savannah is just one example of USDA's commitment to facilitating trade while protecting American agriculture," said USDA deputy administrator Osama El-Lissy, Plant Protection and Quarantine programme.
Besides faster delivery, the programme also cuts logistics-related emissions by reducing truck miles and allowing more efficient shipments. Trucks carrying refrigerated cargo containers may be loaded up to 100,000 pounds (truck and cargo weight) on Georgia highways, where domestic trucks may be loaded only to 80,000 pounds.
"Cold treatment is an environmentally-friendly alternative to fumigation-based pest control methods that emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere," said APL vice president Eric Eng.
Garden City Terminal in Savannah has a refrigerated container capacity of more than 2,600 containers. The refrigerated boxes are powered by 600 chassis plug-ins and 2,016 container rack slots. The Port of Savannah is the only port in the nation to use reefer racks on this scale.
PORTS
16 July 2014 - 06:15
Port of Savannah delivers fresher fruit through USDA pilot programme
GEORGIA Ports Authority participation in a US Department of Agriculture pilot programme will see the launch of fruit shipments from South America, previously trucked to southeastern markets, to Port of Savannah as of September 1.
PORTS
16 July 2014 - 06:15
Port of Savannah delivers fresher fruit through USDA pilot programme
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