Chilean Ambassador Bulnes and Governor Jack Markell welcome the arrival
of the first Chilean fruit vessel to the US for the 2012-2013 season at
the Port of Wilmington, Delaware
(Wilmington, Del.) – Chilean Ambassador Felipe Bulnes, Delaware Governor
Jack Markell, Chile’s Exporters Association (ASOEX) President Ronald
Bown, Pacific Seaways Executive Director Francisco Labarca and Port
officials welcomed this year’s first shipment of Chilean winter fruit to
the US onboard Pacific Seaways’ (PSW) chartered refrigerated breakbulk
vessel m/v Polarstream on Monday, December 17. Wilmington is the
nation’s leading marine terminal for imports of perishable cargoes and a
major port of entry and distribution center for Chilean fruit. This is
the third consecutive Chilean fruit season that Delaware’s seaport has
enjoyed the prestige and honor of receiving the season’s first ship call
to the US. |
(L-R) Chilean Ambassador Felipe Bulnes and Delaware Governor Jack
Markell welcome this year’s first shipment of Chilean winter fruit
to the US onboard Pacific Seaways’ chartered refrigerated
breakbulk vessel m/v Polarstream.
m/v Polarstream will discharge
nearly 6,600 pallets of table grapes, blueberries, cherries, peaches,
nectarines, apricots and plums at the Port of Wilmington |
Chile’s harvest period in the Southern
Hemisphere between late November and April complements the North
American consumer demand for high quality imports of fruit. m/v Polarstream will discharge nearly 6,600 pallets of table grapes,
blueberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots and plums at the
Port of Wilmington.
“We are gathered here today to commemorate the strong fruit trade
partnership that exists between Chile and the state of Delaware,
reflected by the arrival of the first vessel of the 2012/2013 season
carrying Chilean fruit at the Port of Wilmington, one of the main
gateways in the East Coast for shipments of Chilean fresh fruit. Over
the past decades this industry has been one of the most dynamic and
innovative sectors of the Chilean economy and the US is the main
destination market for our agricultural products. We look forward to
further strengthening the relationship between Chile and the State of
Delaware,” said Ambassador Felipe Bulnes.
“Delaware’s seaport is the doorway through which Chilean fruit enters
into North American homes this holiday season,” said Governor Jack
Markell. “Our robust bilateral trade and long and strong friendship with
Chile create many good jobs and stimulates the economies on both sides
of the equator and we are working to continue growing it into the
future,” he added.
The Port of Wilmington handled 15.9 million cases of Chilean fruit at
estimated retail value of $600 million during the 2011-2012 season. The
cargo was stored in the Port’s 800,000 sf on-dock cold-store, North
America’s largest, before distribution as far north as Canada’s maritime
provinces and as far west as the Mississippi River. Chilean fruit trade
via Delaware’s seaport annually supports 750 quality, family sustaining
jobs, and generates $40 million in personal income, $42 million in
business revenue and $4 million in tax revenue for the State and the
region.
About Pacific Seaways (PSW)
PSW has chartered six of the world’s largest, and most modern
specialized reefer ships to transport this year’s Chilean fruit imports
to Wilmington, Delaware. The Port of Wilmington anticipates a total of
25-26 ship-calls from the Chilean ports of Valparaiso, Coquimbo and
Caldera. Pacific Seaways is the only carrier to provide a direct service
from Chile to the Port of Wilmington.
About the Port of Wilmington, Delaware
Founded in 1923, the Port of Wilmington is a full service Mid-Atlantic
seaport on the Delaware River strategically located to provide overnight
access to 200 million North American consumers. Wilmington ranks as
North America’s top banana port and the nation’s leading gateway for
imports of fresh fruit and juice concentrates. Recently, the Port was
certified as a 360 Quality marine terminal, one of three in the nation,
underscoring its high quality handling standards for perishable cargo.
An economic engine for the State of Delaware and the region, it is
responsible for over 4,300 jobs $337 million in business revenue, $315
million in personal income and $31 million in annual local taxes. The
Port is owned and operated by the Diamond State Port Corporation, a
corporation of the State of Delaware.
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