New Joint Facility to Offer Irradiation Treatments and Cold Storage Near Miami Port & Airport

As part of ongoing federal infrastructure investments launched before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Miami Seaport was granted funding to support the development of a new treatment facility. However, due to limited space at the port, officials partnered with Miami International Airport to house the facility in a shared location — a model similar to the existing joint use of fumigation stations.

What makes this new project unique is its inclusion of irradiation technology as an alternative treatment to traditional fumigation. While irradiation is not effective for floral commodities, it is a viable solution for certain fruits and vegetables, offering potential benefits to other segments of the agricultural import community. The cost of using this facility will be the responsibility of the commodities that require treatment.

Additionally, the facility will include cold storage space, creating further value for seaport cargo that requires temperature-controlled environments or preparation for treatment. Many products currently processed through the seaport — particularly those needing manipulation for compliance — may be able to benefit from this centralized solution.

AFIA will continue to assess whether other commodities in our industry could take advantage of this space and infrastructure as the project develops.

It’s important to note that this effort is separate from the Vertically Integrated Cargo Center (VICC), another major infrastructure project currently under evaluation and slated for construction within the coming year.

Read more in the Miami Herald article.