b'NOVEMBER 8 - 21, 2021TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED LOGISTICS 13United Fresh and produce groups issue joint statement on supply chain disruptionsThe House Agriculture Committeeages across the supply chain, growing held a hearing on the challenges facinginput shortages, and stockpiling of prod-the entire agricultural supply chain. Asuct by consumers.part of the hearing, a joint statementInOctober,UnitedFreshjoined representingNorthAmericanfreshmore than 50 organizations to submit produceorganizationsurgingimme- commentstotheAdministrations diategovernmentactiontoaddressSupply Chain Disruptions Task Force significant ongoing supply chain dis- in response to the U.S. Department of ruptions with impacts to food systems,Transportations (USDOT) request for economies, and ultimately individualsinformation that will be used to pre-and families worldwide, was submit- pare a report for President Biden on ted for the record. supply chains for the industrial base. Almost two years since the start ofThe comments offered recommenda-the COVID-19 global pandemic, theretions to help ensure resiliency of the have been substantial increases in costsfoodandagriculturalsupplychain anddelaysalongthesupplychain,by addressing issues including labor, threatening our food security and theclimatepolicy,transportationpolicy Port Manatee, Del Monte extendlong-termeconomicviabilityoftheand infrastructure, container shipping, North American fresh produce sector. inlandwaterways,railcompetition, import hub relationship Examples of ongoing supply chainand service and motor carrier freight disruptionsdescribedinthestatementtransportation efficiency.PortManateeandDelMontetionalpineapples,avocados,plantains,include crippling port congestion, delaysUnitedFreshhascontinuedto Fresh Produce N.A. Inc. have reachedmelons and mangos in moving acrossand exploding costs in container ship- urge Congress for relief and reforms agreement to keep the companys fruitPortManateedocksandthroughtheping,cascadingeffectsofinconsistentto address many of the issues identi-importscomingintothefast-grow- companys Southeast distribution center. product delivery, continuing labor short- fied by the industry. ing seaport until at least 2026, with options through 2036.Continuingourdecades-long partnership with Del Monte is good for Del Monte, good for Port Mana-tee and good for consumers through-outtheU.S.Southeastwhorely upontheefficientflowofbananas, pineapples,avocadosandother much-in-demandfruitsthroughthe companys regional distribution hub at our dynamic seaport, said Reggie Bellamy,chairmanoftheMana-teeCountyPortAuthority,which approved the latest lease agreement at its meeting on Thursday, Oct. 21.Under the agreement, the Coral Gables,Florida-basedDelMonte unit, which has been importing fresh fruit into Port Manatee since 1989, agrees to continue to lease Port Man-atee warehouse facilities through at least August2026,withtwoexten-sion options of five years each run-ningthroughAugust2036.The agreement is valued at more than $1 million per year.Del Monte has enjoyed a strong, mutuallybeneficialworkingrela-tionship with Port Manatee for more than 32 years, and we are delighted to sustain this partnership well into thefuture,saidDeniseTuck,Del MontesPortManatee-basedport manager. PortManateeisonscheduleto completebyyearendexpansionof thepavedcontaineryardadjoining the seaports Berth 12 and 14 docks, morethandoublingthefacilityto 21.9acres.Meanwhile,DelMonte thisyearhascompleteditstransi-tiontoafleetofstate-of-industry refrigeratedcontainershipsfeaturing fuel-efficient hull design, emissions-reducingscrubbersystems,connec-tions to operate on shore power when at berth, and the latest in preventive maintenance technologies.Del Monte imports represent a sig-nificant contributor to the record flow of containerized cargo through Port Mana-tee, which just reported a 53.3 percent year-over-yearincreaseinthenumber of20-foot-equivalentcontainerunits crossingitsdocks,reaching135,660 TEUs in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30. ThelatestadditiontoDelMontes imports into Port Manatee are sustain-ably cultivated, trademarked Pinkglow pineapples,whichjoinbananas,tradi-'