A pilot program to import Peruvian grapes into southern Florida (USA) by sea is now in full swing. Thanks to this program, 150 containers of this season's fruit are expected at the Port of Miami (PortMiami).
"It's a relatively small number, but it's better than zero, which is where we were a year ago," said Bill Johnson, director of the Port of Miami. "We're obviously hopeful that the pilot program will be authorized and that it will become a standard procedure. At this point, we are confident that we will pass the test," he added.
Johnson said his goal was to increase this number to the thousands in the coming years, in order to make the port an "important player in the movement of fresh fruits and vegetables."
The new program also includes Peruvian blueberries in its first shipments, which are set to arrive this month (January). Estimates are that about 100 containers of this fruit will be sent to Miami through this program in this campaign. The protocol also allows for the transport of Uruguayan blueberries and citrus, and the states that the Port Everglades is an alternative receptor.
Johnson said the protocol was a tribute to the hard work done by the partnership of the public and private sectors, which worked to advance the cause of bringing perishable items directly to Florida and serve this state and southeastern U.S.
"We've been diligently working over the last three or four years to comply with the state's standards and Washington's official regulations to develop this initial pilot program, which is currently being developed," he said.
He also said that three shipping companies, Seaport Marine, Maersk and APL, were working at the Port of Miami as part of the initiative. Their journey from the Peruvian ports of Callao and Paita, depending on the company, lasted about 20 days.
"They start cold treatment one or two days before leaving and complete it in Panama, where they stop for a week," Johnson said. "When they are sure they have finished the cold treatment, they send the information to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), and then ship the fruit to Miami."
"This is done because Florida allows imports of Peruvian grapes that have been treated in cold, but this cold treatment must be completed before entering Florida. It's almost the same protocol used in California, for example, "he added.
Products under consideration
Customized Brokers Crowley, which was involved in creating the program, recently released the list of countries and specific product considered for the pilot program, emphasizing that it was open to suggestions:
- Peru: grapes, blueberries, strawberries, mandarins, tangerines, oranges, cherries, kiwis, grapefruit, tangelos and clementines.
- Uruguay: grapes, blueberries, strawberries, apples, kiwis, tangerines, oranges, pears and persimmons.
- Argentina: grapes, blueberries, strawberries, apples, pears, quinces, plums, tangerines, oranges, peaches, apricots, cherries, nectarines and kiwis.
- Colombia: blueberries, gooseberries, grapes, grapefruit, plums, pomegranates, oranges, tangerines, clementines and tangerines.
- South Africa: oranges, clementines, lemons, tangerines, nectarines, pears, plums, plumcots, grapefruit, peaches, grapes, cherries, blueberries, apricots and apples.
- Spain: grapes, oranges, clementines, tangerines, kiwis, apples, persimmons, grapefruit, Ortaniques, Citron, tangerines, persimmons and verna limes.
"It's a relatively small number, but it's better than zero, which is where we were a year ago," said Bill Johnson, director of the Port of Miami. "We're obviously hopeful that the pilot program will be authorized and that it will become a standard procedure. At this point, we are confident that we will pass the test," he added.
Johnson said his goal was to increase this number to the thousands in the coming years, in order to make the port an "important player in the movement of fresh fruits and vegetables."
The new program also includes Peruvian blueberries in its first shipments, which are set to arrive this month (January). Estimates are that about 100 containers of this fruit will be sent to Miami through this program in this campaign. The protocol also allows for the transport of Uruguayan blueberries and citrus, and the states that the Port Everglades is an alternative receptor.
Johnson said the protocol was a tribute to the hard work done by the partnership of the public and private sectors, which worked to advance the cause of bringing perishable items directly to Florida and serve this state and southeastern U.S.
"We've been diligently working over the last three or four years to comply with the state's standards and Washington's official regulations to develop this initial pilot program, which is currently being developed," he said.
He also said that three shipping companies, Seaport Marine, Maersk and APL, were working at the Port of Miami as part of the initiative. Their journey from the Peruvian ports of Callao and Paita, depending on the company, lasted about 20 days.
"They start cold treatment one or two days before leaving and complete it in Panama, where they stop for a week," Johnson said. "When they are sure they have finished the cold treatment, they send the information to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), and then ship the fruit to Miami."
"This is done because Florida allows imports of Peruvian grapes that have been treated in cold, but this cold treatment must be completed before entering Florida. It's almost the same protocol used in California, for example, "he added.
Products under consideration
Customized Brokers Crowley, which was involved in creating the program, recently released the list of countries and specific product considered for the pilot program, emphasizing that it was open to suggestions:
- Peru: grapes, blueberries, strawberries, mandarins, tangerines, oranges, cherries, kiwis, grapefruit, tangelos and clementines.
- Uruguay: grapes, blueberries, strawberries, apples, kiwis, tangerines, oranges, pears and persimmons.
- Argentina: grapes, blueberries, strawberries, apples, pears, quinces, plums, tangerines, oranges, peaches, apricots, cherries, nectarines and kiwis.
- Colombia: blueberries, gooseberries, grapes, grapefruit, plums, pomegranates, oranges, tangerines, clementines and tangerines.
- South Africa: oranges, clementines, lemons, tangerines, nectarines, pears, plums, plumcots, grapefruit, peaches, grapes, cherries, blueberries, apricots and apples.
- Spain: grapes, oranges, clementines, tangerines, kiwis, apples, persimmons, grapefruit, Ortaniques, Citron, tangerines, persimmons and verna limes.
