A groundbreaking ceremony was recently held in Miami for a new Phytosanitary Treatment and Cold Chain Processing Facility. This center will be the first of its kind in Florida and the largest such facility in the United States.
The project is a collaboration between PortMiami, Miami International Airport (MIA), Mandich Group, Cold-Link Logistics, and Reveam. The facility will focus on treating and storing perishable goods. Its phytosanitary treatment area will remove pests from refrigerated cargo containers and air cargo pallets. The cold chain processing section will offer storage, warehousing, distribution, and other services for perishable items.
The total estimated cost of the facility is $141 million. Mandich Group is providing $98.5 million, while PortMiami will contribute $9 million to the project. In addition, PortMiami has received a $33.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration Federal Port Infrastructure Development Program.
According to organizers, “The new facility will provide advanced treatments and inspection capabilities for imported fruits, vegetables, flowers and other plant-based and perishable items.” They added that “Using U.S. Department of Agriculture certified non-chemical treatments, the center is designed to expedite inspections while enhancing protection against invasive pests and diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture.”
The facility is expected to open in 2027.
