Melon season starting at Port of Tampa

Melon season starting at Port of Tampa The first shipment of melons coming into the Port of Tampa from Central America is expected to arrive Friday, signifying the beginning of the tropical melon season at the port.
   Port officials said the Green Reefers vessel Sierra Lara will arrive from Guatemala. Norway-based Green Reefers operates a weekly service during the season. The shipment of cantaloupes and honeydew melons is imported by Altobaso USA.

The Green Reefer's vessel Sierra Lara, pictured during a previous port call, is scheduled to deliver the season's first shipment of melons to the Port of Tampa on Nov. 23.

   General Steamship will provide agent services for the vessel. Green-WSI Terminal will provide terminal operating services and Port America will provide stevedoring services.
   Green-WSI uses Tampa Bay Cold Storage, which is located adjacent to Tampa's container terminal, for handling and storage of chilled and frozen products.
   Port officials noted there is close to 1 million square feet of warehouse space in the port area, including 143,000 square feet of cold storage.