Manfredi providing rail option for Idaho potatoes
Manfredi providing rail option for Idaho potatoes
In mid-April, Manfredi Cold Storage received its first railcar of Idaho potatoes. Rolling into September, Frank Manfredi, president of the sprawling facility located in Kennett Square, PA, said he just was receiving his 40th carload of Idaho spuds.
“With the Idaho potato season beginning, we hope to be receiving more potatoes on rail,” Manfredi said.
Manfredi has a rail spur attached to its modern, food-safe, cold chain-controlled warehouse. This rail spur is served by both CSX and Norfolk-Southern railroads. Manfredi’s customers thus are in a highly competitive situation in choosing rail service. Service to the Manfredi rail spur is handled by East Penn Railroad, a short-line provider. “Because of the short-line we have very competitive rates,” he said.
Frank Manfredi
Of course, Manfredi Cold Storage is available to receive railcars of fruit or potatoes. Produce from the Northwest is a key target for the firm to capitalize on its rail service.
Manfredi has the capacity to be a forward distributing point for shippers. But so far with the potato business the demand has been simply to offload, inventory and then cross-dock ship potatoes directly to eastern customers.
Lower fuel prices this summer kept trucks competitive “for the short term,” Manfredi indicated.
But he said there will inevitably be increased demand for rail service such as what can be provided by his firm.
For companies needing forward distribution, Manfredi places product into its storage, which is equipped with ozone to reduce ethylene gas concerns. When it’s time to ship, sister company Manfredi Logistics Service has a fleet of modern reefer tractor trailers to supply East Coast customers within a matter of hours. Should fruit need re-packaging before shipping, Manfredi has a new, spacious repacking facility — another sister company, International Repack — expanded to perform whatever service might be required. This includes a new “Volm” brand apple bagging line.
Manfredi Cold Storage operates 425,000 square feet of cold storage warehousing and has the capacity to hold 33,000 pallets.
Manfredi’s rail arrivals from the Northwest take 12 to 13 days.
