Feature, Freight News, Logistics, Sea

Chiquita, TA Dedicated Refine Banana Logistics

[ August 28, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

Chiquita Fresh North America and TA Dedicated are marking 20 years of a transportation relationship supporting the movement of bananas from U.S. ports into the grocery distribution network.

The partnership represents the inland portion of a highly specialized cold chain in which maintaining temperature, transit times and equipment availability is critical to moving a perishable commodity from producing regions to consumers.

TA Dedicated, a TFI International company, manages transportation operations moving Chiquita products from U.S. ports to grocery chains and also handles reverse logistics for shipping containers. The operation uses dedicated fleets, onsite personnel and temperature-controlled equipment.

“We are pleased to recognize 20 years of working with TA Dedicated,” said Manrique Bermudez, director of logistics at Chiquita. “This milestone reflects two decades of supporting Chiquita’s transportation needs, and we’re glad to mark the occasion together.”

The relationship is part of the continuing evolution of a banana transportation system with deep roots in specialized ocean shipping. Bananas historically moved aboard purpose-built refrigerated vessels as breakbulk cargo, with careful control of temperature and transit time necessary to prevent the fruit from ripening before reaching market.

Containerization transformed the physical handling of the commodity, but not the need for a closely managed cold chain. Refrigerated containers and increasingly sophisticated environmental controls now allow temperature and atmospheric conditions to be managed through the ocean and inland portions of the trip.

During their 20-year relationship, Chiquita and TA Dedicated have had to maintain those flows through hurricanes, labor disruptions, changing transportation markets and broader supply chain disruptions, according to the companies.

“Strong dedicated collaborations aren’t measured only in years. They’re measured in performance,” said Melissa Suedbeck, vice president of operations at TA Dedicated. “Our teams have worked side by side with Chiquita to solve problems, navigate disruptions and support their transportation needs.”

The operation also illustrates an often overlooked component of refrigerated container transportation: equipment must continue moving after the cargo is delivered. TA Dedicated supports the reverse movement of Chiquita’s ocean containers as part of its transportation responsibilities.

Chiquita has been involved in the fresh produce trade for more than 150 years, during which banana transportation progressed from conventional breakbulk handling through specialized refrigerated shipping and ultimately containerized cold-chain logistics.

The companies did not disclose annual cargo volumes or identify the ports covered by TA Dedicated’s Chiquita operation.

Tags: Chiquita Fresh North America, TA Dedicated, TFI