Consumers in Asia – as well as those in Europe and elsewhere – will soon be able to purchase perishables at their peak of freshness from Latin America thanks to an ocean-to-air pilot programme approved in September by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) that involves Miami International Airport (MIA).

When it comes to fresh produce, Central America is geographically blessed given its close proximity to the United States, the world’s largest consumer market. “We can supply the US East Coast in no more than four days,” says Allan Safieh, CEO of Guatemala-based UNISPICE. “Product can be shipped from Guatemala to Miami via sea in three days.”

A unique aspect to the USDA permit is MIA, which will soon be able to receive perishable freight imports by sea as well, a first for any Florida airport. The first ocean-to-air transhipment is expected at MIA before the end of the year. The intermodal programme is designed to save shippers time and money.

Customized Brokers, a subsidiary of Crowley Maritime, partnered with MIA to gain approval for the pilot programme. The programme allows Customized Brokers to coordinate the ocean shipment of perishables from Guatemala and Honduras on Crowley vessels to Port Everglades, and truck them to MIA for loading on KLM or Centurion Cargo freighters. Additionally, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has granted first-ever approval for expedited processing of these ocean shipments before they depart by air.

While the USDA permit also covers PortMiami, Crowley currently only calls at Port Everglades, hence the need to truck produce from Port Everglades to MIA. After the pilot phase is complete, Customized Brokers will also book cargo with Atlas Air and LATAM Cargo.

A plus for the programme is the gap it fills created by limited direct all-cargo and passenger air service to Guatemala and Honduras. That gap forced perishable cargo to be moved in passenger aircraft and routed through intermediate airports, an effort that can take up to three days and, therefore, possibly compromise freshness, as well as adding cost.

Crowley Maritime vessels take three days to transit from Honduras to Port Everglades; four days from Guatemala.

MIA is a major Latin America air hub, making it much easier to get flights to Europe and Asia. MIA is also the busiest port of entry in America for international air freight.

While Customized Brokers is initially is focusing on Europe, efforts are being made to set up routes to Asia as more airlines in that region offer service to MIA. Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) director Emilio T. González has been traveling to Asia to meet with key Asian airline executives and government officials to discuss and encourage the addition of Miami-Asia passenger and cargo service.

“Cargo shippers now have an additional, expedited channel for transporting perishables through the United States, which incentivizes them to do more business at MIA and PortMiami – two of our state’s strongest economic engines,” he said. “The pilot programme also continues our efforts to grow cargo at MIA through outside-the-box initiatives.”

Last year, González met with executives from China Airlines and EVA Air in Taiwan, as well as numerous Taiwanese government officials.

By Karen E. Thuermer

Correspondent | Washington