The Perishable Specialist Inc., a perishable customs broker headquartered in Miami, announced that it was the notify party and customs broker for SeaLand’s first branded refrigerated container into North America, which was offloaded at Florida International Terminal on Nov. 5.

The container was loaded in San Antonio, Chile, with frozen mixed berries for a client in Massachussetts. Photo courtesy of SeaLand.“The vessel, which docked in Port Everglades, was greeted by SeaLand personnel to welcome this eventful moment,” said Frank A. Ramos, president and chief executive officer for The Perishable Specialist. “The container was loaded in San Antonio, Chile, with frozen mixed berries for our client who is the consignee and importer of record located in Walpole, Massachusetts.”

He said that the entire Perishable Specialist team is proud to be a part of this inaugural event, adding, “We congratulate all those involved.”

Ramos is joined in the business by his wife, Ana M. Ramos, who serves as administration and chief financial officer.

Licensed by Customs & Border Protection, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, The Perishable Specialist specializes in the clearance of fruits and vegetables from Central America and South America.

It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving as a remote location filer. This means that the company is able to clear cargo at all U.S. ports.

Ramos said that the Chilean blueberry season was just getting started in late November.

“We barely saw anything coming in by ocean from Chile the week before Thanksgiving,” he said. “But on Thanksgiving Day the Chilean ocean container pre-alert flood gates opened up. We’re expecting a heavy season from Chile this year.”

Ramos also explained that on Oct. 26, the company was notified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that it had published a final rule that adjusts the fees the U.S. government charges to recoup the costs of conducting agricultural quarantine inspections at U.S. ports of entry.

An AQI fact sheet pointed out that user fees are paid by those who receive AQI services. This includes international airline passengers and the operators of commercial aircraft, commercial maritime vessels, commercial trucks and commercial railroad cars.

It further noted that agriculture is the largest industry in the U.S., and it represents the largest employment sector, adding more than $330 billion to the economy. Experts project that the value of U.S. agricultural trade alone will likely exceed $250 billion in 2015. The AQI program plays a critical role in safeguarding U.S. agriculture from invasive plant and animal pests and diseases and facilitating safe international trade.