Chilean import season in full swing, keeping The Perishable Specialist on the go
Chilean import season in full swing, keeping The Perishable Specialist on the go
The Chilean import season is now in full swing, testified by fresh produce shippers, receivers, their customers and especially brokers who ensure that the rules, laws and guidelines issued by U.S. Customs & Border Protection, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, are strictly abided by.
The Perishable Specialist Inc., a customs broker headquartered in Miami, deals only in fresh fruits and vegetables.
Ana Ramos and Frank Ramos.“By mid-December, the blue wave of ocean containers was arriving non-stop from Chile,” said Frank A. Ramos, president and chief executive officer of the company. “Numerous containers of blueberries and stone fruits were arriving at our ports. Shipments are expected to continue to increase as we head into January.”
Ramos partners with his wife, Ana M. Ramos, who serves as administration and chief financial officer.
In late November, the company announced that it was named the notify party and customs broker for SeaLand’s first branded refrigerated container to arrive into North America.
“The vessel, which was offloaded in port Everglades on Nov. 5, was greeted by SeaLand personnel to welcome this eventful moment,” said Ramos. “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, MA.”
He added that the entire The Perishable Specialist team shares pride in being a part of this inaugural event, adding, “We congratulate all those involved.”
Ramos also explained that on Oct. 26, the company was notified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal & 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.
Regarding the remainder of this season’s Chilean produce movement, Ramos said, “All of our customers are expecting great volumes.”
