While many refer to the Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles as one entity (the San Pedro complex), and the two do collaborate, they are two distinct ports and competitors. Overall volume for the ports combined climbed slightly last year, with fresh fruit and vegetables part of the uptick, but not without challenges.
Global West Transportation, Inc. of Long Beach handles containers of mostly dry goods such as toys and computers, but is also involved in shipping produce. Company president Fernando S. Torres observes, “Many of the so-called improvements to the ports have actually slowed down service.
“For example, cranes are now operated by remote control, not by clerks. If a truck isn’t lined up perfectly, they don’t release your container. Our trucks will make an appointment, have to wait for an hour or two in line, then miss the appointment. We can’t pass along the costs for standby time to customers. As a result, it’s very expensive to pull loads out of the ports.”
Fees can be an obstacle as well. “Because of rising fees, particularly the Los Angeles/ Long Beach port complex, more business is going to ports in Baja Mexico and Galveston, Texas,” adds Torres.
Another port in the vicinity, Port Hueneme, also imports and exports fresh produce. “Los Angeles and San Pedro account for 40 percent of U.S. produce imports, but with all the container traffic, sometimes it’s difficult to maneuver produce through it efficiently,” explains Keffer.
“If we can shorten deliveries by one day, we can save clients money,” Keffer continues. “Because it’s smaller and easier for ships with produce cargo, Port Hueneme is a viable option. It’s very near the Oxnard Plain and other growing areas, so it’s a niche port, especially for agriculture. It’s the main point of entry for Del Monte’s and Chiquita’s vessels. Hueneme is really marketing its produce-handling capabilities.”
Beyond Borders
Although Mexico and Canada are still the U.S.’s largest trading partners, Asia and both Central and South America are playing greater roles in providing the consistent supply of fruits and vegetables consumers expect. “We’ve increased our imports from Brazil, Guatemala, and Ecuador to fill in gaps in our current grower-direct programs,” confirms Souther.
“We’re doing increased business with Thailand and South Korea to bring in coconuts, rambutans, mangosteens, and chestnuts,” shares Talia Shandler.
“Our biggest volume item is bell peppers from the United States, but we also import them from Mexico, Canada, and Holland,” notes Clouthier. “Our next biggest import is cucumbers, mostly from Mexico but also from Holland, Spain, and Canada. Everything from Europe is ship-ped via air freight, which is why we appreciate being close to LAX (Los Angeles International Airport),” he says.
