While yesterday the Canadian federal government stepped in to end the work stoppage actions being taken at the country's British Columbia and Montreal (Quebec) ports, some grower-shippers say that the labor action had little to no impact on their businesses.
"It is not affecting our operation at all," said Patrice Riendeau of Le Potager Riendeau Inc., a Saint-Rémi, Quebec-based vegetable grower. "We barely use the port/containers to move our vegetables. Also, it is not the time when we are receiving all our inputs such as fertilizer, packing supplies, etc."
What about importers? At Capespan North America, it too was not anticipating the strike to affect its business. "As we are at the end of our Southern Hemisphere imported citrus program, the impact on our business is minimal," said Mark Greenberg, president of Capespan North America.
Photo: Port of Montreal
Alternative logistic plans
For fruit that hasn't yet shipped, Greenberg said it could instruct its shippers to avoid Montreal and carry its Canada-bound cargo to a U.S. port of arrival such as New York, New Jersey, or Philadelphia, and then transport it by truck up to its final Canadian destination on a bill of lading. "We follow this procedure for products that originate where there is no easy or regular direct maritime transit to Montreal," says Greenberg.
Instead, a larger issue looms ahead for the import season–namely, if the contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Association and the US Maritime Alliance are not settled by the self-imposed January 15, 2025 deadline. "This labor dispute affects almost every container facility along the eastern seaboard and the Gulf coast. A work stoppage there would be impactful as the Peruvian table grape season is getting underway and the South African season is not far behind," says Greenberg. "Almost all of that fruit, whether its final destination is in the USA or Canada, will discharge at an affected port."
For more information:
Patrice Riendeau
Le Potager Riendeau Inc.
[email protected]
Mark Greenberg
Capespan North America
www.capespan.com