Delaware expects greater Chilean fruit volumes
The Port of Wilmington, Del., said it expects an increase in volumes in Chilean fruit imports because of favorable growing conditions in the Chile and the addition of new shippers to the Pacific Seaways cooperative.
It forecast more than 40 ships carrying about 200,000 pallets will call at the port from December through June carrying table grapes, plums, nectarines, apricots, peaches, cherries, kiwi and other deciduous fruit. Apples, pears and kiwi fruit will begin in April and continue arriving at the port through June. Last year the port handled about 190,000 pallets of Chilean fruit.
The fruit is loaded in Valparaiso, Coquimbo and Caldera.
Fruit moved through Wilmington is distributed throughout the U.S. East Coast, Midwest and Canadian markets. The port has 800,000 square feet of temperature controlled warehouse space, which it says is the largest dockside refrigerated warehouse complex in the United States.