Port Everglades adjusts gate hours for perishables

   Florida’s Port Everglades said trucks from the Chiquita Ripening Center and International Warehouse Services fumigation facility are now allowed to exit from Eller Drive between midnight and 4 a.m., in addition to regular hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
   This exception only applies to the two facilities, the port authority said. The gate remains closed from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. and from 10 p.m. to midnight.
   “As the leading perishable seaport in Florida, we understand the need to move perishable commodities faster so that they are fresher when they arrive to the marketplace,” said Steven Cernak, Port Everglades’ chief executive and port director, in a statement.
   “We applaud U.S. Customs and Border Protection for recognizing this need and working with port staff and our customers to find a solution,” he added.
    Prior to the time extension, perishables that were treated late in the day could not exit after 10 p.m. due to security gate closures. “Now, security officers will open the gates past midnight for Chiquita and IWS to make deliveries,” the port authority said.
   Port Everglades moves nearly half of all the refrigerated containers in Florida.