As the largest single-terminal container facility of its kind in North America and the third fastest-growing port in the nation, the Port of Savannah has faced infrastructure challenges that required an investment to strengthen cold chain capabilities for perishable shippers.
Prior to 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) did not allow imports of perishable foods through the South Georgia port, as it lacked plans and infrastructure to manage the Mediterranean fruit fly. In 2015, the USDA changed its directive and allowed the Port to serve as a new entry point for cold-treated produce, increasing the traffic of frozen and temperature-controlled fruits, vegetables, and proteins. To support the increased traffic, investment in infrastructure and technology were needed.
Americold, a leader in temperature-controlled warehouses and supply chain solutions, responded by building a new 15-million ft3 state-of-the-art cold storage facility that opened in 2020. According to the Georgia Ports Authority, “speed to market and the cost of overland transit have been traditional challenges” for chilled cargo importers aiming to serve the Southeast. New facilities, like the Americold warehouse, enable faster, more efficient distribution channels for fresh and frozen food products.
Source: inboundlogistics.com