CSX continues to grow perishable food transportation

CSX continues to grow perishable food transportation (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) —

Over a year into CSX Corp.’s experimental initiative to transport refrigerated goods up the Interstate 95 corridor from growers to distribution centers, the Jacksonville-based railroad company is looking to expand the program.

CSX Greenway Transportation Inc. launched early in 2021 and has exceeded expectations, according to Chief Strategy Officer for CSX, Farrukh Bezar.

The endeavor moves frozen food, produce and agricultural products from the fields of Florida to produce markets in the Northeast over a four-day express period.

“We’re fulfilling an unmet need,” Bezar said. “We’ve created what I would call a seamless experience for shippers to transition their business or convert truck to rail freight.”

CSX has long sought to move perishable goods, including a similar project conducted in the early ’80s called the Orange Blossom Special that fizzled out due to inefficiencies. The rail business is far different than it was 40 years ago, though, with the industry committed to speed and precise scheduling — a focus that has been under pressure due to staffing issues over the past year.

This time around, CSX’s big success has been in watermelons.

Melon 1, the largest watermelon grower, packer, and shipper in the U.S., uses the service to ship from its farms in Florida to distribution centers in New Jersey.

“We’ve been able to keep a consistent supply of watermelons [in New Jersey] because of our relationship with CSX, ” Melon 1 Seed and Plant Manager Brandi John said in a customer testimonial video. “What we’re able to do is take our watermelons from the farm, to the packing facility, and then directly to New Jersey, and from there we’re able to ship to our customers in the Northeast because of CSX.”

The Greeway trains, which carry more than 100 refrigerated intermodal trailers, have become the largest Florida watermelon distributer to the Northeast.

“We’re using the same equipment that’s being used on the highway, in terms of we’re using trailers, to make it as seamless of an experience as possible, providing a door-to-door service,” Bezar said.

The initiative has been successful in carrying refrigerated, temperature controlled produce like fruits, vegetables and frozen products from South Florida and South America, Bezar said, as well as dry goods, cut flowers, and other products being imported and sent north.

On the way back south, Greenway trains carry frozen product like french fries or frozen pizzas, as well as dry consumable goods like rice, to parts of Florida.

“Greenway impacts the entire state of Florida,” Bezar said. “We are providing a safe and efficient way for them, for customers to move their goods, whether the customers are here in Jacksonville, which is important to us, whether in the Tampa, Punta Gorda area, whether they’re in South Florida.”