Fresh Quest to ship melons through Port Manatee

Fresh Quest to ship melons through Port Manatee    The Manatee County Port Authority said Thursday it has approved a five-year contract with Fresh Quest Inc., a company that will import cantaloupe and honeydew melons through Port Manatee.
   Fresh Quest will ship to the Florida port from farms and packing facilities in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, and Puerto Cortes, Honduras. It ranks among the largest U.S. importers of seasonal melons from each November to May.
   Fresh Quest, which has offices in Plantation, Fla., is a subsidiary of Xela Enterprises in Toronto, Canada.
   'Port Manatee is a good fit for our growth strategies,' said Mario Cardenas, Fresh Quest's president. 'We intend to maximize the port's proximity to Central America and our U.S. and Canadian customer base, to minimize expenses and enhance delivery of a fresher, better product for the consumer.'
   Fresh Quest plans 22 seasonal voyages to the port each year on charter ships. Exports bound for Central America will include used automobiles, farm equipment and agricultural supplies.
   'This occasion brings to a close a four-year courtship between Fresh Quest and Port Manatee,' said David L. McDonald, Port Manatee's executive director. 'It puts people back to work with good-paying jobs, while providing the foundation for new and expanded opportunities for more imports and exports to Central America.'
   Liberty Terminals LLC will provide stevedoring services for Fresh Quest and Customized Brokers Inc. will handle all aspects of the import process including U.S. Customs clearance and compliance.