The North Carolina port has brought in a new Leica Microscope, which is expected to increase inspection speed and efficiency
The Port of Wilmington has revealed it has a new Leica Microscope that it says will make the inspection process for imported produce and agricultural products more efficient, saving customers time and money.
When agricultural products and produce are imported into the US, those commodities must be inspected by US Customs and Border Protection specialists to ensure they do not contain pests that might harm plants and agriculture grown domestically.
Prior to having the Leica Microscope, CBP agriculture specialists had to ship detected specimens to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) office in Charleston for identification.
Now, CBP personnel can use the microscope to take high-resolution pictures that can then be sent electronically to USDA officials for same-day analysis and identification, cutting the process down from several days to several hours.
“This new piece of technology offers high-resolution imaging and rapid processing capabilities that allows for CBP frontline personnel to quickly and accurately identify and analyse specimens, reducing the time needed for adjudication,” said CBP area port director Miguel Garza Jr.
“By leveraging this advanced technology, CBP can streamline the inspectional process and support the facilitation of legitimate trade at the Port of Wilmington.”
The Leica Microscope will help keep goods moving by avoiding bottlenecks, which the port said could in turn motivate more importers to utilise the Port of Wilmington.
This will a positive for North Carolina reefer exporters because it repositions empty equipment in their home state rather than at other gateways farther north and south.
“This technology will enable the Port of Wilmington to process a range of produce categories more efficiently,” said Brian Clark, executive director, North Carolina Ports.
“Combined with our best-in-class productivity and trucker turn times, this new capability further establishes Wilmington as an optimal growth gateway for cold chain and ocean carrier expansion.”
It marks ”another significant step forward” in Wilmington’s expanding role as a key mid-Atlantic cold chain gateway, the port said.
Along with multiple new industry cold storage facilities near port, the microscope strengthens importers’ ability to leverage velocity and proximity advantages when serving customer demand, it stated.
“Growing fresh produce imports for North Carolina grocery stores and consumers further unlocks NC agriculture and life sciences exports because it positions the necessary equipment right here at this close-proximity gateway,” said Hans Bean, chief commercial officer, North Carolina Ports.
“Ocean carriers can optimise equipment flows and maximise the use of their assets while serving their global customers by utilising Wilmington, NC.”
