The Port of Oakland’s executive director Chris Lytle suggests the shipping hub’s proximity to key Californian horticultural production regions will be an important differentiator as it competes with other ports for business over the next decade.
Lytle said the port’s location already made it the preferred gateway to Asia for fruits and nuts from the Central Valley, and vegetables from the Salinas Valley.
With the port now working on a new “Cool Port” cold storage facility specifically for export commodities, Lytle anticipated more fresh produce will find its way through Oakland.
“The Port of Oakland’s proximity to the Central Valley makes us a vital link in the global agricultural supply chain,” Lytle explained. “For our customers—that means greater reliability and reduced travel times through Oakland.”
The new cool storage facility will compliment the port’s planned Seaport Logistics Center, which will provide customers with a self-contained “one stop” facility for warehousing and distribution. Lytle says the centre will be built adjacent to marine terminals and railyards, helping to speed up the overall movement of goods in Oakland.
