A new joint venture across industries is creating new shipping opportunities for almond producers. The Almond Alliance of California has spearheaded a partnership to coordinate a new logistical route to get nuts to foreign markets. Almond Alliance President and CEO Aubrey Bettencourt said the project creates a shipping method to work around some of the ongoing challenges and will help address the backlog of almonds destined for export markets.
Bettencourt: “We’ve partnered with the Union Pacific and with a number of private landowners to open up rail spurs as inland ports and working with carriers like CMA CGM, and OOCL. We have been working to and have announced the opening of two ramps using rail as a new way to bring onboard export opportunities out of ports of Los Angeles. Hopefully soon to say ports of Long Beach. We’re moving the nuts to where the boats are and working with our partners at the carriers and on rail to facilitate new outlets for our industry to move product again.”
The joint partnership includes Blue Diamond Growers, Union Pacific Railroad, ocean carriers, west coast ports, and other logistic leaders. The Central Valley Ramp to the Port of Long Beach is the first to come online. As the project continues to unfold, Bettencourt said the plan is to work towards opening up more service lines. The project could serve as a framework for developing long-term shipping opportunities for the entire agricultural industry.
