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The best of times for the port of Wilmington

WILMINGTON, DE — These may be the best days in a long history of success for the port of Wilmington, DE, which was founded in 1923.

To discuss this success, Tom Keefer met with The Produce News just days before his June 30 retirement as the port’s deputy executive director.

Keefer said that in 2014, the port of Wilmington handled 6.1 million tons of cargo, which was likely the most in its history.

Fresh produce accounts for about 40 percent of the tonnage passing through the port.

“This is a much different world than when I grew up,” Keefer said, noting that now fresh fruits and vegetables from around the world are available every day of the year. “Demand is growing and supplies have to grow to keep pace.” This proves very good for business at the port of Wilmington. “The future is very, very bright” for not only Dole and Chiquita, who receive weekly refrigerated container ships in Wilmington but also for other specialized reefer services that also call on Wilmington.

Keefer noted that, in addition to Wilmington volumes hitting all-time highs, operation standards are increasing.

“We are working on getting our SQF certification at the port,” Keefer said. “SQF will be the food-safety benchmark for produce at ports. Especially ports like Wilmington. When you have breakbulk cargo, there is a lot more handling involved.”

In Wilmington, the combined volume for Dole and Chiquita is up 6 percent this year. Chile’s winter fruit volume rose for Wilmington by 20 percent this year. Due to a shortened season, Wilmington’s total volume for Moroccan clementines was down 21 percent. But Moroccan clementines for the U.S. market were up 13 percent. “This was the first time our volume to the U.S. exceeded our volume that is trans-shipped to Canada. That is big for us.”

The port’s profits for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, were the highest ever.

“A lot of good things are happening here. We have ordered two new ship-to-shore cranes, which will be operational in 2016. These rail-mounted gantry cranes will be in addition to the two gantry cranes and one mobile crane we already have.”

Presidential visits

Keefer said that the port of Wilmington has received two national presidents in the last year. President Barrack Obama spoke at the port in July 2014. Additionally in January 2015, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and seven Chilean government ministers called on Wilmington — and other Delaware River ports — to celebrate success in receiving and distributing large volumes of Chilean fruit.

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