Port of Oakland Partnering with Feds to Help Agriculture Exporters

Refrigerated containers
Refrigerated containers
Refrigerated containers at the Port of Oakland. Photo: Port of Oakland.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Port of Oakland are teaming up to help agricultural exports move their goods through Oakland more quickly, the port announced Feb. 1.

The federal department plans to fund 60% of the cost to launch a temporary yard exclusively for export distribution on 22 acres of waterfront property at the port as a way to address congestion of empty containers that’s impacting the movement of exports in Oakland.

This would give agricultural exporters sole use of pre-cool refrigerated containers and USDA incentives to use the “pop-up yard.” This would also divert trucks away from marine terminals, according to the port.

“As a major hub for the export of California’s and America’s fresh fruits, nuts, dairy and frozen proteins, we appreciate the administration’s efforts to ease shipping delays and costs for agricultural exporters,” port Executive Director Danny Wan said.

COVID-19 revealed vulnerabilities across the supply system, at ports as well as in the agricultural sector, said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

“This partnership with the Port of Oakland builds on our aggressive approach to addressing challenges within the supply chain and sends a strong signal that we are committed to working across the Administration and with state, local and private partners to mitigate complex port capacity and congestion issues and to keep American agriculture on the move,” Vilsack said.

By Karen Robes Meeks