C.H. Robinson expands cross-border capabilities with new South Texas fresh produce logistics center
C.H. Robinson expands cross-border capabilities with new South Texas fresh produce logistics center
Robinson Fresh, C.H. Robinson’s fresh supply chains solutions division, announced the opening of a new, 142,600-square-foot South Texas logistics center. Located strategically just miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, the facility significantly expands the company’s cross-border capabilities as well as its ability to move produce from farm to fork faster and fresher.
“Cross-border supply chains demand speed, precision, and a tight focus on each customer’s needs,” said Robinson Fresh President Jose Rossignoli. “This South Texas facility brings those capabilities together in one place, helping customers reduce dwell time, control costs and get products to market faster. It’s one more example of how we’re offering produce shippers one integrated bundle of scale, technology, human expertise and tailored solutions.”
Ninety-eight percent of all fresh produce imported from Mexico enters the U.S. through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona or California. Of that total, 55 percent goes through Texas, making this border-adjacent logistics infrastructure increasingly critical for retailers and hospitality businesses focused on speed, freshness and reliability.
Located in the town of Pharr in the Rio Grande Valley, the South Texas facility is one of the largest in the region. It is strategically positioned near the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge, the most important U.S.–Mexico border crossing for perishables, as well as the Anzalduas International Bridge and other bridges in the region, and has easy access to U.S. Highway 281, McAllen International Airport, nearby railroad and the ports of Brownsville and Matamoros (Mexico).
The newly constructed building features 69 dock doors, multiple temperature zones and value-added services, and is certified to Global Food Safety Initiative standards and USDA Organic requirements. Embedded directly into C.H. Robinson’s end-to-end logistics platform and the largest temperature-controlled network in the nation, it is purpose-built to support fresh produce supply chains, offering:
- Faster customs clearance and reduced border dwell times
- Immediate cooling, ripening, quality control and repacking capabilities
- Optimized consolidation and cross-dock operations
“This new investment confirms our strategic commitment to South Texas,” said Todd Bernitt, vice president of managed solutions. “The more we can inspect, cool, repack and label products immediately at the border, the more we expand our ability to protect product quality from the moment it enters the U.S., while giving shippers more flexibility in how and when inventory moves to its destination.”
From South Texas, customers can efficiently reach major consumption markets across the country:
- Midwest and South: in one to three days
- East Coast: in three to four days
- West Coast: if/when the market requires it
By shortening transit times and improving network optionality, the facility helps customers improve fill rates, on-time-in-full performance and inventory freshness.
“The South Texas logistics center is the latest example of how Robinson fresh continues to invest in infrastructure, technology and expertise to help customers navigate increasingly complex global supply chains,” said Rossignoli. “This is how we keep raising the bar and delivering the exceptional service our fresh produce customers expect.”
