First arrivals of Canary Islands tomatoes are expected into ABP Southampton on October 23.
The season is set to run for seven months and fruit will dock exclusively at the south coast port, to be handled by Southampton Fruit Handling.
Last season SFH handled nearly 81,000 tonnes of produce - which also included capsicum, avocados and cucumbers through 79 ship calls to the Canary Islands Fruit Terminal at Western Docks.
The vast terminal is the size of two football pitches and has deep-water berths capable of accommodating two ships at the same time. It also has storage capacity for thousands of pallets of tomatoes and the other fruit lines from the islands without breaking the cool chain.
Nagato will be the first vessel of a season that will see up to three ships a week mooring from early December. SFH director Margaret Jenkinson, pictured with Doug Morrison, said: “We are proud to be at the centre of what is a vibrant and historic trade and business has never been better for us.”
Morrison, ABP port director in Southampton, said: “Following a great deal of investment we are at the forefront of Britain’s trade in fresh produce. SFH has helped make that happen.”
Southampton’s position as the sole UK port of entry for Canaries’ produce was recently strengthened by a four-year renewal agreement between ABP, SFH and the Federations of Canary Islands Producers.
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