Frank Ramos, owner and president of The Perishable Specialists, a customs house broker headquartered in Miami, has been clearing asparagus for a long time so he knows this is the calm before the storm.

“Of course asparagus comes in year-round, but we are in a light period right now just getting ready for the seasonal spike that will come in September,” he said.

Contacted in mid-July, Ramos was using the down period productively. “Getting ready to take my oldest to her freshman year in college,” he said. “She is going to FSU (Florida State University) and be a Seminole (FSU nickname). We’ve got one more month and then we will be taking her up to college in August. It’s going to be a big change for us,” he added referring to Ana Ramos, his wife and business partner.

In the meantime, Ramos said The Perishable Specialists continue to grow the business, but experienced no major changes in the past year. “We’ve been blessed with good business this last year and I have no changes to report. We have the same crew and we are looking forward to another great year.”

Asked to explain his success even during down economic times, Ramos said “we do one thing — perishables — and we do it well.”

He said July 9 marked the beginning of the final phase of new regulations covering paperwork on inbound freight shipments, but no problems have arisen because of that. “Starting July 9, the regulations require that violations can be issued and penalties assessed.”

He said if the paperwork hasn’t been filed or if there are errors or omissions, fines can be levied. “The penalty phase is upon but I haven’t heard of any penalties being assessed yet,” he said July 19.

While the customs brokers themselves, such as The Perishable Specialists, are experts and know the information that is necessary, Ramos said shippers are not always on top of what is needed. “The information (that has to be filed) has to be obtained from origin so it requires a lot of communication and education.”

As remote customs brokers, Ramos and his staff at The Perishable Specialists can clear freight at any port in the United States, but the ports of south Florida are its busiest import facilities. “We also clear freight in New York, New Jersey, Houston, L.A., Philly — all over the United States, but Miami is our busiest port and by Miami, I am also including port Everglades, which is only a few miles down the road.”