One Banana Launches New Ripening and Distribution Center in Wilmington

One Banana, a family-owned and vertically integrated produce company, has recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art ripening and distribution center located in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Positioned just 12 miles from the Port of Wilmington, this expansive 19,800-square-foot refrigerated facility is strategically designed to meet the service needs of customers throughout the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Investment in Modern Produce Handling

The Wilmington Distribution Center marks a considerable investment in modern produce handling operations. The facility integrates advanced technology with streamlined logistics to minimize dwell time, safeguard product quality, and enhance customer growth opportunities. Notably, it features seven 42-pallet ripening rooms that utilize EU-style reverse air flow systems, ensuring precise control for ripening bananas, avocados, mangos, pears, and a variety of other produce.

Comprehensive Services Offered

The Wilmington DC is equipped to provide a comprehensive suite of services to growers, retailers, foodservice distributors, and wholesalers. Key services include:

• Ripening: Reverse air flow technology guarantees consistent quality and superior products.
• Drayage & Cross-Docking: Accelerated transitions from vessel to outbound trucks, minimizing transit time.
• Cold Storage: Temperature-controlled environment for up to 580 pallets, complete with container plug-ins for green storage.
• Re-Palletization and Inspections: Flexible handling processes customized to meet varied retailer, foodservice, and distributor requirements.

Enhancing Efficiency Across the Supply Chain

“Our new facility in Wilmington is more than just an increase in capacity – it’s about creating a faster and more responsive produce supply chain for the East Coast,” remarked Rob Adams, president of One Banana. “We aim to assist our customers in moving products from port to market with reduced time, less waste, and increased confidence in each shipment.”

By situating the facility near one of the fastest-growing ports on the U.S. East Coast, One Banana empowers customers to save hours on delivery routes while maintaining optimal cold chain integrity. This strategic location will prove valuable during peak seasons, accommodating imports and tight delivery windows for high-value produce.

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