Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/715089
1 2 3 1 2 3 Crowley's unique sanitization process includes a special sanitizing agent to guarantee there will be no bacteria left that could endanger the cargo. At Hill Top's packaging plant, workers carefully clean and inspect the harvested snow peas to safeguard quality. Crowley's perishable-handling, cold- storage warehouse serves as an in-transit consolidation/deconsolidation point and offers multiple humidity and temperature- controlled coolers. Learn more about... Crowley's logistics capabilities at crowley.com/logistics ? boxed and loaded by plant employees into a Crowley refrigerated container. It's then immediately transported directly to the port where it is placed aboard one of Crowley's multiple scheduled ships for transit to the U.S. Refrigerated containers have always been a priority in the cold-supply chain. Crowley's experienced liner and logistics team makes sure the reefers are the last containers loaded onto the ships and the first ones unloaded in the U.S. The logistics of getting the product from the farm to the consumer is an intricate dance that must be performed without missing a beat. Customs and Cold-Storage Expertise A farmer's responsibility isn't relieved once the product leaves its origin. One of the toughest challenges of the shipment is clearance by U.S. Customs. Time is of the essence, and Crowley's expertise with government agencies and their regulations allows it to expedite clearance through Miami-based subsidiary Customized Brokers. Customized Brokers specializes in electronic, import clearance documentation to ensure perishable freight is cleared on time. They have also built a strong knowledge of compliance issues and have an upstanding reputation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that allows them to expedite the clearance of each shipment. Long-time client Edgar E. Baldizon, grower of snow peas and sugar snaps as owner of Hill Top Farms in Guatemala, has taken advantage of the full logistics solutions Crowley provides for the safekeeping of his imported cargo. "Crowley has supported our operations since the beginning. Containers arrive on time, cleaned and sanitized, which is very important," explained Baldizon. "Furthermore, adding the customs clearance and refrigerated warehousing services in Miami has made our operations more cost effective. They take care of all the paper work, inspect the product once again and even re-palletize, if necessary." Once the refrigerated shipment is released by Customs, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other government agencies, customers like Baldizon can utilize Crowley's perishable-handling, cold-storage facility, CrowleyFresh. This nearly 40,000-square-foot, temperature- controlled warehouse in Miami serves as an in-transit consolidation/ deconsolidation point, featuring high-tech cooling and monitoring equipment. It's divided into almost 20,000 square feet of multiple humidity and temperature-controlled coolers. The services include forced air pre- cooling, which can be adjusted to meet and maintain varying temperature requirements for perishables, and about 17,000 square feet of dry storage space for non-perishables. "Crowley has become our 'second set of hands' in the U.S. by making sure our goods are in optimum condition as they are distributed around Florida, and all the way to California," concluded Baldizon. The array of services offered by Crowley throughout its farm-to-market operation cannot be compared with any other provider. Its outreach goes beyond the transport of goods; Crowley commits to businesses and their potential for growth by delivering the logistics expertise needed for success in their markets. 19 Connections Summer 2016 19 Connections Summer 2016