Posts Tagged “Texas Port of Entry”
A busy Texas port of entry has begun on a $40 million consruction project to cut wait times for produce and other agricultural goods.
Thirteen of 24 new secondary inspection bays at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge will include cold storage unit equipment to ensure inspections don’t harm produce shipments.
“With the continued increase of imports from Mexico, especially produce-related commodities, that require an inspection from our agriculture specialists, having these additional dock spaces will have a significant positive impact on our ability to expedite the processing time and get shipments on their way into U.S. commerce,” Carlos Rodriguez, Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas director, said in a news release.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, General Services Administration and City of Pharr, Texas, formed a partnership that allows the city to donate to the project.
“The additional cold storage bays will also serve proactively in maintaining the integrity of certain products while they are inspected in climate-controlled areas, rather than exposing them to the South Texas heat,” Rodriguez said.
A 10,000-square-foot inspection and training facility will enhance the Custom and Border Protection’s agricultural specialist ability to detect pests, diseases and related testing on agricultural products.
The port processed nearly 1,800 commercial trucks transporting an average of more than $13 million worth of agricultural products each day in fiscal year 2019, which is nearly 15 percent of all fresh produce imported into the U.S.
“The City of Pharr remains committed to working with our federal partners to identify and implement innovative methods to expedite traffic and trade at our international port of entry, making border crossings and inspections function more effectively while helping our trade partners process and cross their goods more efficiently,” Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez said.
Southeastern peach shipments will be wrapping up earlier than usual this season. In Texas, new funding should translate into more Mexican produce crossing the border.
Southeastern Peach Shipments
Georgia and South Carolina peach shippers expect to end peach harvesting earlier than normal due to winter growing conditions.
Most South Carolina peach shipments should be ending by late August, earlier than the typical September 10-12 end. A big production drop of late-season varieties is expected by July 15th.
For example, in a typical week in late July, Titan Farms harvests 180,000 cartons and ships 120 truckloads. This season, the company expects to harvest 70,000 boxes and ship 45 loads a week, 35 to 40 percent of Titan’s 2014 and 2015 production.
Georgia Peach Shipments
Fourth of July shipments were high for Georgia peach shipments, but due to dormancy issues, shippers expect to ship lighter than normal late season volume through late July before seeing a flush of production in early August. While strong August peach shipments are seen, loadings should be completed during the week of August 15th, a little earlier than normal.
Georgia peaches and vegetables – grossing about $2500 to New York City.
Texas Port of Entry
Loadings of fresh Mexican produce at warehouses in the Lower Rio Grande Valley are only expected to keep increasing in the years ahead, and new funding by the federal government will help spur this trend.
Pharr, Tx, is one of the three Lone Star State recipients of Donations Acceptance Program funding from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Pharr will use funds from the public/private partnership for expanded cold storage facilities; an agricultural identification and training facility, which will ultimately reduce waiting times on insect identifications; and expanded secondary inspection docking space.
The Pharr project is specifically focused on facilitating and expediting shipments of fresh produce from Mexico. This is seen as crucial in building trade and helping grow the Texas produce import industry.
The Texas produce industry contributed more than $475 million in economic activity and 4,500 jobs to Texas in 2015. Additionally, there are CBP funded projects in Donna, Tx, and at Red Hook Terminals.
Created in 205, the agency’s Donations Acceptance Program helps expedite U.S. port of entry improvements.
Mexican tropical fruits and vegetables at Pharr, Tx port of entry – grossing about $3800 to New York City.