There could be some major benefits for southern receivers of fresh produce from offshore countries resulting from a new six-month pilot program that kicked off Oct. 1.

The program allows for the clearance of cold-treatment perishables, such as blueberries and grapes from Peru and Uruguay, through south Florida.

This could result in a successful alternative to congested Northeastern ports where currently these perishables are required to enter the United States for cold treatment and clearance. Receivers in Southern states, such as Florida, for example, must then have the produce shipped back south for distribution to their customers. The result is increased transportation costs, fuel usage, shorter shelf life on store shelves and in restaurant kitchens and higher consumer prices.

The new pilot program was spearheaded by the Florida Perishable Trades Coalition, a nonprofit association developed to increase trade in perishable products through Florida's airports and seaports. Founding members include Crowley Maritime Corp., Customized Brokers, Seaboard Marine and Port Miami.

On Oct. 2, a short video was released by Crowley Maritime, which features Nelly Yunta, vice president of sales, marketing and customer care, liner and logistics business groups for Crowley Maritime Corp. and vice president of Customized Brokers, describing the program and addressing questions that professionals have about the initiative.

Yunta said that it has taken over two years to form the coalition, work with the U.S. agencies involved — primarily the U.S. Department of Agriculture — and develop the pilot program in a long-term effort to open south Florida ports as entry points for products destined for the South.

"Blueberries and grapes from Peru and Uruguay for the pilot program are good examples of products whose final receivers are in the South, but the products must enter the U.S. in northern ports, receive cold treatment and then be shipped back to customers in the South," said Yunta.

"These are well-defined import programs," she added. "If the program goes well, we plan to expand it to other products and from additional countries.

"Port of Miami and Port Everglades are working on master plans for this project," she continued. "They want more business coming into Florida, and so they are doing whatever possible to make this project successful."

She also explained that because Customized Brokers receives shipments for its customers in the North, the company is fully aware of the congestion problems that have occurred there, resulting in perishable products being held up longer than desirable. Knowing the details of these problems has strongly motivated the company to try to help to find a solution.

The Oct. 1 start date of the program was chosen and requested of the U.S. Department of Agriculture because that is the start of both the blueberry and grape seasons.