Sun Belle Opens 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 re- graders 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 pre- coolers, 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 [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected].