A number of senior officials have met at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in South Philadelphia to observe the unloading of the Bahia Castillo, a refrigerated cargo ship carrying thousands of tonnes of fresh Chilean fruit to the US and Canada through the Port of Philadelphia gateway.
The meeting underscored the importance of a recent trade mission to South America by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, who was joined by the Chilean Agricultural Minister Luis Mayol Bouchon and senior Chilean agricultural officials at the Philadelphia unloading.
As part of the event, approximately 10,000lbs of Chilean fruit was donated to Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organisation, which loaded the fruit for immediate shipment to its local distribution center.
“On behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Chilean Minister of Agriculture for joining me here today,” said Corbett. “Our growing trade partnership with Chile provides Pennsylvanians and people throughout the region with year-round access to affordable fresh fruit.
“The opportunities for expanded trade with Chile and other central and South American countries will continue to deliver outstanding products, generate significant numbers of good jobs throughout the region, and continue the growing momentum of the Port of Philadelphia as an economic gateway to a significant portion of American population.'
Pennsylvania and Chile have a shared history of interchange and understanding, with the ports of the Delaware River the largest nexus of arrival for fresh Chilean fruit in the world, including commodities such as grapes, apples, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots as well as summer citrus products.
'The Republic of Chile is proud to work with our natural and longstanding trade partner in the United States,” said Joaquin Tagle, agricultural attaché to the Chilean embassy. “The Delaware River Gateway has long been synonymous with excellent Chilean products-most visibly fresh fruit but with deep connections to our forest products, copper, seafood and world famous wine exports.'
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