A new, direct steamship link carrying refrigerated cargo between Veracruz, Mexico, and Philadelphia would be a positive “that would change a lot of things,” in the view of mango importer David Ponce. Ponce is the procurement manager for Amazon Produce Network, which is based in Vineland, NJ.David Ponce, the procurement manager for Amazon Produce Network, which is based in Vineland, NJ.

Ninety-five percent of Amazon’s produce imports are mangos. And a direct link with Veracruz would benefit Mexican mango exporters, as well as shippers of avocados, limes and other products, Ponce noted. “I’m a big fan” of the concept. If buyers’ f.o.b. point for mangos was metro-Philadelphia instead of Mexico, those buyers could order one day in advance of their needs instead of anticipating needs three days’ shipping-time in advance of an overland route.”

Currently, Mexican mangos shipped to the eastern United States are trucked through McAllen, TX. Amazon has a Compton, CA, office that receives Mexican mangos through Nogales, AZ, and Los Angeles. Ocean freight service from Veracruz would have no effect on the western distribution, Ponce noted.

If a Veracruz service were created, there would still be mango exports through McAllen, Ponce noted. Some mangos are needed there for mixed loads. Furthermore, mangos grown in central Mexico — and to the south of there — would be geographically best-suited for shipment from Veracruz.

Last year Amazon imported 2,400 containers or trailer loads of mangos from Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico. Of this volume, 500 truckloads came over the road from Mexico. The remainder was sea cargo.

Ponce said in June the French shipping line Marfret “sounded really interested” in creating the Veracruz-to-Philadelphia link. Furthermore, “SeaLand is looking again at getting involved,” he added.

Amazon Produce is cooperating with the shipping lines to provide information needed to make the new connection. This includes connecting Amazon’s Mexican growers with those lines.

Ponce credits Philadelphia’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal for being “really friendly with produce.” On-site government inspections are provided, “which helps procedures a lot.

“We are always looking to go into Philly,” because of the services, which he noted include several specialized cold storage facilities. Going through New York City and New Jersey ports is a secondary option. Seaboard Marine offers a container service that first calls on New York and then, a day later, docks in Philadelphia. Amazon chooses to wait for the ship to arrive in Philadelphia to receive these Peruvian mangos.

Until about four years ago, Amazon received Guatemalan mangos aboard banana ships arriving on the Delaware River. A lack of cargo space forced Amazon to switch to receive the Guatemalan product in Miami, based on a three-day ocean service. For Amazon, some Guatemalan mangos also come through Norfolk, VA, “but the cost-benefit is not that good. If we had a good service, we would do Guatemala to Philly.” Amazon’s Guatemalan mango volume has dropped 50 percent since service to the Delaware River ports was lost.