A deal to keep fruit giant Dole at the Port of Wilmington
for the next 15 years that was tentatively agreed to in the summer has finally
been officially signed.
Dole is the Port of Wilmington's largest customer, importing
bananas, pineapples and other fruit, making Wilmington home of the largest
fresh fruit import port in North America. Dole exports forest products and
other general cargo.
The lease deal with the Port includes 37.7 acres of terminal
land and about 100,000 sq. ft. of warehouse and office space. About 52 Dole ships per year call on the
port. Along with two options to extend
the lease by ten years each, the deal should keep Dole at the Port of
Wilmington through 2048.
"We have been at the Port of Wilmington for more than
30 years and this agreement with the Diamond State Port Corporation reaffirms
our commitment to the people of Delaware, the longshoremen, our employees,
vendors and customers," said Stuart Jablon, Vice President and General
Manager of Operations for Dole Fresh Fruit.
The deal with Dole will help preserve 850 jobs at the
port. Delaware Governor Jack Markell
says the deal will allow the port to continue to "connect our state to the
global economy, provide jobs for hard-working Delawareans and ensure a
dependable flow of revenue for our economy."
As part of the deal to keep Dole in Delaware, the state has
agreed to increase the number of cranes that will load and unload ships, as
well as other upgrades to the port.
Source: Newsworks.org
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