“According to some of our customers, overall blueberry exports are expected to increase from last year even though Chile suffered a series of frosts that affected a large part of the blueberry growing area,” said Nelly Yunta, vice president of sales, marketing and customer care, liner and logistics business groups for Crowley Maritime Corp. in Jacksonville, FL, and vice president of Customized Brokers, the customs brokerage and consulting division located in Miami. “These weather events caused damage, and some growers lost most of their production. But as Chileans have planted more acreage, they still expect an increase in exports. The estimated growth is about seven percent.”

Early in 2013, the company opened Crowley Fresh in Miami. The facility features multiple humidity- and temperature-controlled coolers. It stores and handles perishables imported from or exported to Latin America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and the Far East.

Nelly YuntaIn mid-November, Yunta said the two Chilean products the company was handling the most were grapes, which had just started. Movement is expected to extend through March.

“We also started handling blueberries which, as the planted area stretches north to south, are shipping from October throughout April,” she said. “We see that Chilean exporters continue to be committed to produce and export a quality product utilizing best practices in the industry that mitigate pest risks. I think the challenge professionals there will face is competition from other growing countries. Most recently, Peruvian grapes have been allowed to enter south Florida, and the Peruvians are taking full advantage of this logistics option that helps them position their fruit closer to the Southeast market.”

Customized Brokers recently handled the first shipment of Uruguayan citrus coming to Philadelphia after many years of restrictions. Yunta said the company is also clearing the first shipment of cold-treated grapes coming to Port Miami.

“As board members of the Florida Perishable Trade Coalition, we are committed to continue working with the industry to facilitate trade while ensuring we maintain the integrity of our domestic agriculture,” Yunta noted.

The company’s streamlined process includes state-of-the-art, web-based systems that allow customers to track the status of their cargo 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Fresh produce is time-sensitive,” Yunta said. “It has a short shelf life. Having a streamlined processing facilitates the release and distribution of our customers’ cargo. Our team maintains strong relationships with various government entities.”

Those agencies include the Food & Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Crowley’s personnel regularly receive training from these organizations that help facilitate processing. Several of its staff members attend FDA, USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service, Customs & Border Protection and other meetings, seminars, webinars and other educational venues. These staff member then train the rest of the company’s staff.

“Maintaining a strong relationship with the U.S. government makes it easier to find solutions for our customers’ importing needs,” said Yunta. “It’s easier to rectify any potential issues that may arise with the USDA, for example. We are involved in all levels of movement of the fresh produce. We do it all, from A to Z — from booking at point of origin to final delivery.

“We have local representation in Miami, Port Everglades, New York, Philadelphia, Newark, Houston and Los Angeles,” she continued. “However, we are able to clear within any port in the United States, including Puerto Rico.”