FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/31/18
Media Contact: Lori Boym, lboym@sun-belle.com
Sun Belle opens new Miami Distribution Center
Sun Belle Inc., a leading marketer, and distributor of conventional and organic
berries has opened an 82,000 square foot state of the art refrigerated
distribution facility in Miami. Adjoining Miami International Airport, the facility is
also 15 minutes from the port of Miami and close to the Palmetto Expressway,
Florida Turnpike and I-95. Sun Belle is using the facility for the fresh berries and
other produce the Company markets and distributes on behalf of its growers and
is providing third-party handling for perishables on behalf of other importers and
distributors.
“Sun Belle has had Miami operations for more than 16 years,” stated Janice
Honigberg, the company founder and president. “This is Sun Belle’s third home
in Miami. We bought this facility in early 2017 and built it out to our specifications
so we would have enough room for our growing berry business as well as to
provide handling services for others. Our company’s policy has always been to
be hands-on with the product we sell, handle and distribute.”
“We are very experienced in maintaining the cold chain and have ensured that
perishables can be loaded and unloaded, handled and stored without breaking
temperature,” Honigberg noted. “In addition, we have an experienced team of regraders
and sorters who can ensure perishables make arrivals at their ultimate
destination.”
“Sun Belle Miami operates seven days a week,” Janice added. “We take pride in
fulfilling deliveries completely and on time and being responsive to truckers,
suppliers and customers alike.”
The facility features a total of nine docks, including 7 refrigerated docks, 4 precoolers,
7 independent coolers, two large refrigerated work rooms, an ample
refrigerated dock and dry storage. Access to the docks is off 25th Street; the
office and parking is off 72nd Avenue.
Sun Belle’s new facility is Primus Global Food Safety (GFS), Organic and
Demeter Biodynamic® certified and operates around the clock. Sun Belle is
exploring the efficacy of installing automated blueberry sorting equipment in
order to pack bulk berries.
The Sun Belle facility in Miami is directed by Mariella Marrero, who has been Sun
Belle Miami’s General Manager since 2006. “Mariella, as an expert and
experienced perishables facilities manager, helped ensure that this facility was
designed and completed to meet top industry standards and needs,“ Janice
Honigberg said. “Her challenge was to implement a build-out that was almost
five times the size of the distribution center she also helped create in 2006 for
Sun Belle on 70th Avenue.”
Sun Belle Inc. was established in Washington, DC in 1986. In addition to the
Miami facility, Sun Belle operates a 63,000 square foot facility in Jessup,
Maryland; a 52,000 square foot facility in Schiller Park, Illinois; and 14,000
square feet of dedicated space within a 50,000 square foot facility in Oxnard,
California. The company markets conventional and organic berries, including
blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, golden berries, cranberries
and red currants, under the Sun Belle® and Green Belle® brands.
For any information about Sun Belle Inc. and its facility in Miami please contact
mmarrero@sun-belle.com, jgarcia@sun-belle.com or lboym@sun-belle.com.
###