WASHINGTON: Tons of grapes, blueberries and other fresh fruit from Chile will continue flowing through the Port of Wilmington for at least the next five years. Officials at the state-owned port say they have hammered out a new long-term lease with a Chilean shipping conglomerate that solidifies a cornerstone of the Wilmington facility’s business.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Getting a long-term deal with the Chileans was one of the most important pieces to ensuring the long-term viability of the facility,” said Delaware Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock, who chairs the state agency that runs the 300-acre port. “Unloading this cargo is also labor intensive. As a result, this deal will be responsible for keep hundreds of employees on the job.” Located at the confluence of the Christiana and Delaware rivers, the port employs more than 2,000 people, including about 920 whose jobs are tied to the Chilean fruit trade.
Last year, that trade generated $50 million in personal income for those involved with the cargo and $5 million in tax revenue. More than half of the Chilean fruit sent to U.S. markets travels through Delaware River ports, and Chile is one of Wilmington’s largest refrigerated storage customers during the southern hemisphere’s growing season.
