In 2013 fresh produce was permitted to arrive into Florida ports for the first time in several decades under a pilot program agreed to by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was a great success and today fresh fruits and vegetables are flowing freely from offshore countries.

The program was the result of collaborative efforts by the Florida Perishables Trade Coalition, which was formed in 2012, and the USDA.Container ships load and unload at the container berths at the Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City Terminal. (Photo courtesy of Georgia Ports Authority/Stephen B. Morton)

According to preliminary unaudited fiscal year 2014 statistics, more than 1 million 20-foot equivalent units — the standard measurement for cargo containers — moved through Port Everglades, nearly evenly split between imports and exports. A continually increasing portion of the import units were filled with fresh produce, primarily from Central America and South America.

“This is a huge accomplishment for our seaport and a credit to our customers who continued to build their businesses through the global recession with an eye toward the future,” Steven Cernak, chief executive and port director, said in a Nov. 3 press release.

PortMiami is also riding the produce import wave. It reports that The Port Tunnel makes PortMiami the only U.S. port with direct, non-stop access to the U.S. interstate highway system. Its rail and highway connections from the port ensure that perishable goods reach 70 percent of the U.S. population in four days or less. It boasts same-day delivery of perishable goods to markets in central Florida, with next-day service to markets in Atlanta and the Southeastern U.S.

PortMiami offers extended USDA hours of operation, and it has 228 million square feet of warehouse space with more than 13 new bulk warehouses under construction. It also lays claim to being the U.S. port closest to Latin America and the Caribbean, resulting in shorter shipping times and extended shelf life for perishables. It has more USDA staff than any other port of entry in the U.S., resulting in real-time, prioritized service, processing and faster release of perishables. It also has more than 1,000 reefer plugs and USDA authorization for on/off port fumigation.

In July 2014, the Port of Savannah, GA, announced that it would import South American citrus, grapes and blueberries that “will arrive sooner and last longer for consumers in the Southeastern U.S. thanks to the Georgia Ports Authority’s participation in the USDA pilot program.”

“South American fresh fruit destined to the Southeast market has traditionally been shipped to Northern U.S. ports,” said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. “Delivery to Savannah means fruits won’t have to be trucked as far to reach Southeastern markets, allowing fresher offerings for stores and longer shelf life for consumers.”

Starting Sept. 1, the Port of Savannah began handling fruit from South America that has undergone cold treatment, a process that prevents the transmission of agricultural pests.

Through the pilot program, citrus fruits, grapes and blueberries will be chilled for at least 17 days prior to entry into the U.S. to protect against fruit flies. The process will be done in producing countries — including Peru, Chile and Brazil — or at transshipment points such as Panama.

The fruit will move in refrigerated containers held just over freezing during transit aboard cargo vessels, effectively cutting the time the fruit must remain stationary for treatment.