WILMINGTON, DE — New and renewed contracts have made an exciting year for the port of Wilmington.

Tom Keefer, deputy executive director of the port, told The Produce News that Dole Fruit Co., based in Westlake Village, CA, in December 2013 renewed its contract to discharge fruit in Wilmington. The renewed contract calls for a 15-year term, but there are options that may keep Dole’s Northeastern operation in Wilmington until 2048.

This spring, Chiquita Fresh North America also renewed its contract with Wilmington. This is a five-year contract that can be renewed until at least 2029.

In October this seaport signed a five-year contract with Fresh Fruit Maroc to receive Moroccan clementines.

“This is very, very good for the port. It keeps Dole and Chiquita on the (Delaware) river,” he said. Wilmington is one of the larger discharge ports in North America for both Dole and Chiquita. “Our agreement with Fresh Fruit Maroc is the longest we’ve effected since our relationship began in 2000.

“With the exception of Chile being down 20 percent this year, we are having a pretty good year,” he said. “Our Argentine apples and pears are up 26 percent.”

Last fall, Wilmington’s Moroccan clementine business was up 61 percent and the seaport’s Peruvian volume doubled this year.

The Moroccan season ran this year from October to March. Typically the season starts in October and runs through January.

This year the volume of Moroccan clementines earmarked for the U.S. market exceeded what was shipped to Canada. “We are helping Fresh Fruit Maroc’s ability to service the U.S. market.” Three years ago Wilmington began the phytosanitary procedure of cold treatment for the U.S. market. “We cold treated 3,500 pallets for the U.S. and it was enormously successful.” Adjustments have since been made for cold treatment on the vessels. Almost 45,000 pallets of Moroccan clementines were handled by Wilmington last season, and that volume will increase in the next season.

Banana and pineapple volumes “are performing well,” Keefer said. Those volumes are up almost 10 percent from 2013.

Keefer indicated that his port is installing two new ship-to-shore cranes for a total investment of approximately $25 million.

“We also are going to put cargo pallet racks in one warehouse this year.” This will create 1,200 additional pallet positions. The racks will be three high and five deep. “They will be installed by the end of this summer and ready for the Chilean season.”

With all of these developments, “things have been busy around here,” Keefer noted.

Keefer said Peruvian grapes have been shipped through the port of Wilmington for the last four years. Brazilian grapes have been going through Wilmington too. But Keefer said, “Unfortunately the Brazilian program is getting smaller each year. California late varieties are becoming more prevalent and they are squeezing out Brazil’s window.”

Chiquita has increased volume to Wilmington due to the firm’s replacing “Lady” class ships with larger ships with greater capacity, especially for refrigerated containerized cargo.

Keefer was asked to detail the strengths of the ports of the Delaware River and the port of Wilmington. The ports collectively are at “the center of the largest concentration of consumers in North America. This is a great spot to be. We also have the strongest infrastructure for reefer cargo of any region in the U.S. This was developed to support the growing volume of perishable cargo coming up the river,” he said.

Speaking specifically of Wilmington, Keefer noted, “The people here are extraordinarily innovative, talented, cooperative and accommodating. When our customers speak we listen and respond. Our facilities are modern and well maintained and plentiful, and our labor is very experienced and highly efficient.”

Keefer noted that the port of Wilmington is one-quarter of a mile from Interstate 95.

There is an exception to that rule this summer. The I-95 bridge over the Cristiana River, which provides northbound drivers with an excellent view of the port of Wilmington, was found earlier this year to be listing by four degrees. Major safety repairs are under way, but the bridge will be open by Labor Day or sooner, well before the heavy winter fruit season begins.

The port of Wilmington is known for its approach of Team Wilmington. Beyond Keefer’s entity, this group includes Murphy Marine Services Inc., Royal Pest Solutions and a few other entities. “We all work together to develop the best possible logistics solutions we can for our customers,” he said.