Savannah, Georgia, USA: Producers, shipping lines and logistics providers that form the global supply chain for Savannah’s chilled cargo imports have continued to deliver “rock-solid service” despite the coronavirus pandemic, the Georgia Ports Authority says.
Import numbers have remained steady from origin nations across regions such as south and central America amid Covid-19 concerns, the port says. ” refrigerated imports reached 26,230 containers for the fiscal year through the first week of May, the latest data available. That constitutes growth of 10.5% or approximately 2,500 containers,” it says in a statement.
“The Port of Savannah has been very agile and willing to meet the challenging needs of the produce industry,” said Evan Moss, senior director of perishables for the J&K Fresh East division of 721 Logistics.
“Refrigerated cargo imports are extremely time-sensitive with market prices constantly changing based on the conditions of supply and demand that exist throughout the country.”
The Port of Savannah provides faster delivery and cost-efficient transport for perishables such as citrus, grapes, avocados and tropical fruits due to its proximity to markets such as Atlanta and Memphis . The scale of GPA’s refrigerated cargo infrastructure is also a significant advantage, the port says. GPA has 119 refrigerated container racks, for 2,856 container slots.
In 2019, the Georgia Ports Authority completed the US Department of Agriculture’s Southeast In-Transit Cold Treatment Pilot Program, which expanded Savannah’s perishable product ranges by allowing South American citrus fruit, grapes, blueberries and other produce items to enter via the port. This program provides substantial cost savings to customers in the southeast and beyond.
Routing perishable goods through Savannah to serve the US southeast means perishable items reach stores five to seven days sooner, for improved shelf life and product quality, the port says.
