WENATCHEE, Wash., Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The Washington Apple Commission has recently released an economic impact study on the effect that the state's apple industry has on the state and region. According to the study, Washington's apple industry is a major contributor of income, employment and tax revenues to the state's economy. For example, the apple industry boosted the Washington economy by an estimated $7.02 billion in direct, indirect and induced economic activity in 2010-2011.
One of the notable aspects of the study is regarding freight mobility and transportation, and discusses "The apple industry's need for an efficient transportation system…" and that "Apple packers have operations at some public port facilities which help generate port revenue and support the critical mass of business activity that ports need to prosper."
The study highlights the Port of Quincy as a key freight mobility location at which several apple packers operate facilities. In particular, the study states that "The Port of Quincy operates an intermodal terminal that ships apples and other refrigerated and frozen products to the Midwest with the 'Cold Train' service. This service started in 2010 and features specially designed containers that can be trans-loaded from trucks to rail and back to trucks for efficient transport and delivery. The shipping volume is expanding rapidly and rail deliveries are being extended to eastern U.S. markets. Service is provided six days per week. About 70 percent of the east bound cargo is fresh Washington apples, with remainder being other fresh and processed fruits and vegetables."
Stated Curt Morris, Chair of the Port of Quincy, "We are very pleased that the Port of Quincy Intermodal Terminal has become an important shipping and distribution hub for Washington State apples, and that the Cold Train is being recognized as an important freight mobility option to ship Washington State apples to the Midwest and East Coast."
For more information, contact Curt Morris at Email or 509-214-7696 or Pat Boss at Email or 509-214-7696.
About the Port of Quincy
Located in the center of Washington State, the Port of Quincy is ranked as one of the top low-cost rural locations in the United States for business and economic development with a full array of infrastructure including an abundant supply of irrigation water and low-cost hydropower electricity, a key cross-country rail mainline (from Seattle to Chicago), a modern rail intermodal terminal, a major interstate freeway (I-90), a new and larger capacity water treatment system, an ample supply of natural gas, high-capacity bandwidth dark fiber, a skilled workforce, approved foreign trade zone status, relatively inexpensive industrial and commercial properties, nearby commercial air service, and a central location in the heart of Washington State's most productive irrigated agricultural region. The Port of Quincy has premier sites for food processing and food manufacturing companies, fresh produce packing companies, warehousing and distribution companies, high-tech companies and data centers, etc. At the Port of Quincy, major fresh produce and food processing companies such as ConAgra Foods, National Frozen Foods, NORPAC, Amway-Nutrilite, Oneonta, Stemilt, CMI, Double Diamond, Jones Produce, Columbia Colstor, etc. find themselves next to technology companies like Yahoo!, Dell, Chinasoft, Intuit, Microsoft, Sabey and Vantage.