The Port of Wilmington has announced the arrival of the season's first shipment of Zespri kiwifruit and Enza apples from New Zealand, with marketer Oppenheimer expecting a further one or two shipments at Wilmington before the end of the summer.
Zespri kiwifruit has now been discharged at the port for three consecutive years, the Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC) revealed, while Enza apples were returning to the port for the first time in five years.
'Shipping this high quality fruit in specialised reefer vessels through Wilmington allows us to maintain the supply chain requirements in the most economical manner possible,' said Tom Verbitski of the Oppenheimer Group. 'The Port of Wilmington is very experienced with these products, and offers excellent facilities to maintain the cold chain from discharge through delivery.'
The fruit, which includes Zespri green and gold kiwifruit and a range of Enza apples including the Jazz variety, will be distributed across the US and eastern Canada, the Corporation said.
'We are delighted to handle Zespri and Enza fruit at the Port of Wilmington,' said Eugene Bailey, executive director at DSPC. 'The port's trading relationship with New Zealand fruit shippers spans more than two decades.
'We welcome the opportunity to partner again with the Oppenheimer Group fulfilling their warehousing, inventory management and distribution requirements,' he added.
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