Food Logistics serves the entire food supply chain industry with targeted content for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors.
Issue link: https://foodlogistics.epubxp.com/i/387691
F R O M T H E E D I T O R ' S D E S K FOR STARTERS PUBLICATION STAFF Publisher Jolene Gulley Editor-in-Chief Lara L. Sowinski 262-443-5919; lsowinski@ACBusinessMedia.com Assistant Editor Eric Sacharski 920-563-1680; esacharski@ACBusinessMedia.com Managing Editor Elliot Maras 800-547-7377, ext 1693; emaras@ACBusinessMedia.com Ad Production Manager Cindy Rusch 920-563-1664, crusch@ACBusinessMedia.com Art Director Kirsten Crock Senior Audience Development Manager Wendy Chady Audience Development Manager Tammy Steller EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Jaymie C. Forrest, vice president, supply chain practice, Alexander Proudfoot Kam Quarles, director, legislative affairs, McDermott Will & Emery LLP Pamela Erb, vice president of supply chain, Wegmans ADVERTISING SALES East Coast Sales Manager Judy Welp 480-821-1093; Fax: 480-240-4897 jwelp@ACBusinessMedia.com Midwest/West Coast Sales Manager Carrie Konopacki 920-568-8309; Fax: 651-203-0460 1233 Janesville Ave., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 ckonopacki@ACBusinessMedia.com CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS PO Box 3257, Northbrook, IL 60065-3257 (847) 559-7598, Fax: (800) 543-5055 Email: circ.FoodLogistics@omeda.com LIST RENTAL Elizabeth Jackson, Merit Direct LLC (847) 492-1350, ext. 18, Fax: (847) 492-0085 Email: ejackson@meritdirect.com REPRINT SERVICES Nick Iademarco, Wright's Media (877) 652-5295, ext. 102 niademarco@wrightsmedia.com AC BUSINESS MEDIA INC. Chairman Anil Narang President and CEO Carl Wistreich Executive Vice President Kris Flitcroft VP Content Greg Udelhofen VP Marketing Debbie George Digital Operations Manager Nick Raether Published and copyrighted 2014 by AC Business Media Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Published by AC Business Media Inc. PO Box 803, 1233 Janesville Ave., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0803 (800) 547-7377 • www.ACBusinessMedia.com W W W . F O O D L O G I S T I C S . C O M A t Food Logistics, a considerable amount of our editorial coverage is devoted to the transportation piece of the supply chain, primarily road and to a lesser extent rail. Tis year we've made a concentrated efort to include an equally important — and growing — transportation mode: ocean. "Growing" may in fact be an understatement. In May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service and Foreign Agricultural Service upwardly revised its forecasts for imports and exports of U.S. farm goods to record breaking levels for FY 2014. All told, exports of U.S. agricultural goods is likely to reach $149.5 billion, while imports too are expected to hit a record high $110.5 billion. Most of these agricultural imports/exports are moving by ocean carriers through a growing number of U.S. seaports, and this is where the story really gets interesting. In the past few years we've seen a considerable amount of refrigerated food shipments migrate from specialized carriers to containerized carriers. There are several reasons for this shift, including greater overseas demand for fresh/frozen food, lack of capacity and ports of call from specialized reefer carriers, and technology advancements in refrigeration and controlled atmosphere to support a global cold chain. Likewise, as more agricultural shipments move via containerized vessels, the number of seaports handling food-related shipments is changing and diversifying. Major box ports in the U.S. are seeing an uptick in food-related cargoes, both dry and refriger- ated. Many are adding more reefer plugs to accommodate these shipments, while other infrastructure enhancements at or near the ports, such as more cold stor- age capacity, USDA and CBP inspection services, overweight container corridors, on-dock rail and other features are creating additional opportunities for shippers. Meanwhile, niche ports with a long his- tory of handling food shipments, whether bulk, breakbulk or containerized, are also seeing more business due to the overall increase in imports/exports. This month's cover story profiles some of the key U.S. ports in the global food supply chain, along with the top import/ export commodities handled by each port and foreign source- and consumer-markets involved in the trade. Going forward, we will continue to expand our coverage of this dynamic sector within the global food supply chain. Another exciting change is closer to home. Recently, Food Logistics and our sister publi- cation, Supply & Demand Chain Executive, were purchased by a new media company, AC Business Media (www.acbusinessmedia.com). This next chapter holds immense potential for our publications and audience and we are all looking ahead with enthusiasm. Enjoy the read. LARA L. SOWINSKI, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LSOWINSKI@FOODLOGISTICS.COM S O W I N S K I How The Food Chain Moves 6 SEPTEMBER 2014 • FOOD LOGISTICS Del Monte Fresh Produce is one of Port Manatee's largest customers.