SOUTHAMPTON WELCOMES FIRST SHIPMENT OF TOMATOES
The first shipment of Canary Islands fresh produce recently arrived at Associated British Ports’ (ABP) Port of Southampton, officially marking the start of the fruit season. The port is the sole UK destination for all Canary Islands fresh-produce imports.
With a cargo of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, Mogami Reefer made its way from the sunshine of Tenerife to the dedicated Canary Islands Fruit Terminal in Southampton’s Western Docks. This marked the start of the fruit season, which runs from October to May each year. The fruit was then unloaded before being distributed to supermarket shelves all over the country.
Around 80,000 tonnes of palletised Canary Islands fresh produce are handled at the port each year, the majority of which consists of tomatoes. Smaller volumes of peppers, avocados and cucumbers are also handled during the season.
Ray Facey, Assistant Port Manager for ABP Southampton, said:
“The Canary Islands Fruit Terminal is the outcome of continued investment by ABP. It is a top-class facility for handling fresh produce, which requires high-quality facilities and levels of service, and has helped maintain Southampton as the sole UK port of entry for Canary Islands fresh produce.”
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