Jost, however, points out how these port expansion projects could affect day-to-day operations. “As a result of the tunnel construction, there will likely be a heightened demand for carrier drayage fleets needed to haul container cargo from the Miami port, which may impact both cost and available equipment.”
While Cabrera says PortMiami is doing a wonderful job, she has one concern about these major improvements. “We may lose some of our competitive advantage since more companies will be shipping into Miami.”
Road Blocks
From weather and transportation to food safety and labor, Miami produce buyers and sellers face their fair share of obstacles.
Food Safety & Inspections
Cabrera says import FDA inspections have the largest impact on their business. “The occasional delay can cause quality issues, not to mention excessive stress,” she says.
Constantly changing regulations also pose an enormous challenge for Miami importers. “In the government world we work in, change is inevitable,” Ramos says. “There are always new regulations and procedural changes to keep the consumers of the United States safe.”
For example, he points out one recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulatory requirement that has created yet another obstacle for importers: fumigation as a condition of entry for blueberries from three growing regions in Chile, due to the Egyptian grapevine moth.
Wild Weather
Of course, weather is always a concern for grower-shippers across the nation—and Miami produce professionals aren’t immune. One overly rainy season or unexpected frost can spell disaster for these businesses. Then there are the tropical storms and hurricanes that can wreak havoc for the entire state or Eastern Seaboard.
“When I look at the produce industry, I think about all the challenges that Mother Nature brings us,” comments Douglas Tannehill, president of Global Perishable Services LLP, a Miami-based importer/exporter that provides load consolidation and warehouse services. Surprisingly, Tannehill refers not to Florida’s often challenging weather patterns, but the larger crisis affecting growers in California, Arizona, and Texas, due to the ongoing drought and “water challenges out West.”
Another twist on the weather is exports. Tannehill says Global Perishable Services exports produce to small island destinations throughout the Caribbean. As the economy improved over the last few years, vacation and leisure time to the many islands of the Caribbean has perked up. This, in turn, has driven the need for fresh produce imports as guests seek a broad range of fruits and vegetables.
