NEW COLDSTORE UNVEILED IN LA

The facility near Los Angeles airport could support the influx of perishable imports and boost the region's share of the business

Apollo Freight has opened a 16,000 sq ft refrigerated warehouse just east of Los Angeles international airport in California, the US, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times.
The facility, which can handle 100 tons a day and bring in US$90m annually in revenue, was apparently unveiled on November 28 by Apollo's parent company Mercury Air Group.

Apollo has seen its capacity more than double, providing more space to handle California produce headed to Asia and the Middle East, as well as for processing imported goods and those on the way from Central and South America to Europe and Asia.

While southern California dominates maritime imports, currently most airfreighted perishable items enter the US through Miami’s international airport and then trucked onto destination markets.
This new coldstore however could help southern California expand its perishable import trade.

“There is ample room for Los Angeles to grow in moving perishables," said David A. Herbst, executive vice-president of Mercury Air Group.

Miami International handled 73% of the more than 181,000 tons of fruit and vegetables imported to the US by air last year, according to Los Angeles World Airports, the city department that operates LAX.

LAX, meanwhile, came in third position for fruit and vegetable imports, behind Miami and New York’s John F. Kennedy international airport, with a 5% share.

The opening of the new coldstore has increased the area’s refrigerated warehouse space for airfreighted goods by 35.5%, according Victor J. Adducie, general manager for Apollo Freight.

Source: www.fruitnet.com