New York’s JFK Airport upgrades perishables warehouse
Published on
03/11/2010 10:53AM
New York importers welcomed cargo improvements at the John F. Kennedy International Airport and say the changes should help improve produce air imports.
In early March, American Airlines Cargo Division opened a cargo terminal at the air hub.
According to an American Airlines news release, the relocated facility has 135,000 square feet of warehouse capacity, three perishable cargo coolers and 24 dock doors.
Michael Schiro, salesman for importer and exporter Jac Vandenberg Inc., Yonkers, N.Y., said the upgrades should help shipments.
“Especially when dealing with a perishable item like blueberries, any improvements that can be made will help get the product out quicker,” he said. “If product is forced to stay at the airport for any extended period of time, having improved cold storage space will definitely be an advantage for anyone bringing in product.”
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D'Arrigo |
Jac Vandenberg flies Chilean blueberries and cherries into JFK Airport.
Matthew D’Arrigo, vice president of D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of New York Inc., and co-chairman of the Hunts Point Terminal Market, said air shipments aren’t a major factor at the market and said he doesn’t think many of the market merchants source product via air.
“It’s a business of the past,” D’Arrigo said. “My company’s use of air freight has dwindled to very little compared to 10-15 years ago because the (overall) volumes of items you ship are significantly more now, and now you can ship them by truck, which is much cheaper.”
D’Arrigo used to fly in raspberries but now only sources Hawaiian papayas via air freight.
In 2009, JFK’s cargo facilities handled 11,490 tons of imported vegetables and 2,654 tons of imported fruits and nuts, according to the Port Authority of New York, which oversees the city’s airports, mass transit and bridges.
For exports, the airport handled 491 tons of vegetables and 9,966 tons of fruits and nuts.
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