There has been interest in this forum in the ongoing return of fresh fruits and vegetable to rail shipment. Some of that shipment has been via reefers from CA and WA to the eastern US, as wells as rail shipments originating in those states in refrigerated containers.
Below is an article about fruit from Mexico crossing the border at Nogales AZ, getting loaded into reefers which are then hauled east by UP and CSX to Maryland.
[QUOTE]
Giumarra Nogales successfully delivered its first shipment of Mexican produce by railroad and says it plans to make full use of this transportation method in the future.
The company shipped watermelons grown in the northern Mexican state of Sonora to Maryland in the U.S. by a 50-foot refrigerated railcar from Nogales, Arizona in May. It is reportedly the first time in decades that produce grown in Mexico has been shipped via train.
Giumarra worked with Sonora-based Pacific Brokerage to coordinate a full shipment of the melons, which are said to have arrived in good condition. One railcar can hold three times the capacity of a single truck.
The company’s division manager Gil Munguia said in a release the fruit’s characteristics made it suitable for railroad transportation.
“Although our delivery had a few challenges, we feel the overall success of the trip demonstrates that watermelons are sturdy enough to handle rail shipment, and it may be a viable option for us in the future,” Munguia said.
Giumarra’s sales manager Cesar Pacheco worked with Pacific Brokerage over three years to find a railroad company that wanted to be involved with the project.
With the help of the Arizona-Mexico Commission and the Port of Tucson they ended up with Union Pacific and CSX Corporation, who agreed to a trial program.
Read the full article here: