» HAS Newsroom
By Houston Airport System
May 8, 2008
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It’s the time of year when maternal instincts and a mother’s intuition are celebrated around the nation. Clever radio and TV ads nudge at the very core of familial bonds and responsibilities, urging us to “make that date special” for our own loved ones.
Mother’s Day is just around the corner and local businesses are gearing up for the busy season.
Every year, local flower businesses look forward to this holiday because despite advertisers’ best efforts it seems there is still no better way to say Happy Mother’s Day than with a bouquet of flowers. It’s one of the busiest times of the year for them, with hundreds of thousands of flowers being trucked in for that special someone – mom.
Perishable goods, including flowers, fruits, vegetables and fish are a growing business in the United States – and increasingly in Houston. These sensitive products require effective and efficient methods of transportation when it comes to handling and processing them.
The marketing team at the Houston Airport System (HAS) is currently working on a major project to have these types of goods flown into George Bush Intercontinental Airport’s (IAH) cargo facility.
A brand new perishables center, designated to begin operation later this year, will create a brand new line of business for HAS and bring to the region a new market of opportunities. With the 61,484 square foot perishables facility at IAH, the Houston Airport System plans to speed the delivery of imported products into the local market so consumers and business owners alike can receive fresher goods and consequently get more for their money.
“Our vision is to become the preeminent gateway for perishable imports and distribution to the South Central and Western regions of the United States,” says Genaro Pena, director of marketing for the Houston Airport System. “Houston’s consistent, rapid growth in air cargo and passenger volume presents a real opportunity to those countries and carriers providing air service to Houston.”
Frank Huezo, like many others, is eagerly awaiting the inauguration of the IAH Perishables Center in Houston. Huezo is president of the importing company Green World and is one of the many proponents for the new facility. |
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Fresher Flowers. The IAH Perishables Facility promises to deliver fresher flowers to the Houston market by next Mother's Day. |
After 22 years of importing perishable goods through mostly trucking services, he says he is ready for the day when he can fly in fresher products to offer his consumers lower prices.
“In the beginning, I tried flying the flowers directly to Houston on passenger service aircrafts, but my shipments kept getting bumped,” says Huezo. “The only other option I had and still have today is to fly the goods into Miami and truck them here to Houston.”
Huezo is estimating to process almost half a million stems of assorted flowers at Green World the week before Mother’s Day, the second busiest time of the year for his flower business. His busiest time of year, Valentine’s Day, last year, brought in over 750,000 stems of assorted flowers.
Some of the opportunities the upcoming perishables facility will bring, both Pena and Huezo note, are reduced transit times for air cargo destined for the South Central and Western regions of the United States, reduced trucking costs by importers, and improved freshness of perishable commodities.
“A perishables facility is long over due. Not just for Houston, but for the Mid West,” says Huezo. “A perishables facility will give us two to three days extra of freshness, which is a lot. It will also take trucks off of the road, avoiding the long haul trip from Miami to Houston.”
The IAH CargoCenter has already established IAH as a major gateway for air cargo distribution around the world. This facility is capable of handling the demands of any importer, exporter or shipper and offers more than 550,000 square feet of cargo space.
In addition it will be located next to the IAH CargoCenter’s Federal Inspection Services facility and a fumigation treatment area, which will allow for faster air cargo inspection and processing times.
By this time next year, the new perishables facility at IAH promises that mom can expect to enjoy her flowers a few days longer after Mother’s Day has passed.
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