- Blueberries, citrus, and grapes from Peru
- Blueberries and grapes from Uruguay, and
- Blueberries, apples, and pears from Argentina.
Port NOLA joins USDA’s Southeast U.S. Cold Treatment Pilot Program
posted by AJOT | May 24 2017 at 08:09 AM | Ports & Terminals
Pilot expands shipping options & reduces perishable cargo transit time
NEW ORLEANS – The Port of New Orleans announced a new opportunity for shippers looking to transport perishable cargo from South America. Port NOLA received approval by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for inclusion in the Southeast U.S. In-Transit Cold Treatment Pilot Program. Participation in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) pilot program means select time-sensitive products can be treated to meet customs compliance in-transit rather than after it arrives to the U.S. – resulting in shorter transit times and increased efficiency for shippers. “Participating in this pilot is a significant gain and highlights Port NOLA’s ongoing commitment to developing new business,” said Brandy D. Christian, Port of New Orleans President and CEO. “This program gives current and future port shippers additional options to transport refrigerated cargo, while reducing transit time from origin to the consumer.”
Prior to this program, refrigerated cargo had to flow through specialized treatment facilities in the Northeast U.S. to be cleared for distribution. With more than 900 refrigerated plugs available at Port NOLA’s facilities, the Port is equipped to handle additional perishable cargo.
Cold treatment is a process whereby perishable fruits are brought to a certain temperature for a period of time as dictated by authorities to fulfill APHIS quarantine requirements targeting pests such as fruit flies.
The following commodities are included in this pilot: