FAQs- General

What commodities does A-1 have the most experience handling?
A-1 has exceptional expertise in perishable commodities such as meat, seafood, produce, dairy, confections and pharmaceuticals. These commodities require precise temperature requirements and exact delivery timeframes.

What makes A-1 better that other cold storage facilities?
It is not so much that A-1 is better but rather quite different than other cold storage facilities. A-1 specializes in highly perishable commodities and in doing so has structured their process differently than most other facilities. Every A-1 client has a dedicated account manager who is intimately aware of the requirements of their shipments. In addition, A-1 customizes each handling program to specific customer needs. This includes cold storage, inventory tagging and tracking, reporting and communication and trucking and delivery.

Can A-1 help me with government agency certification?
Yes. A-1 has the knowledge and the relationships with officials at all of the government agencies involved in the importation of perishable commodities into the U.S. This includes FDA, USDA, Customs and Border Security, Fish and Wildlife, HACCP, Agricultural Dept, and others.

Can A-1 clear my products through U.S. Customs?
Yes. A-1 has developed several programs that include Custom brokerage services. This means that your shipments can be totally handled by A-1 including consolidated billing and communication.

What is the process of importing a NEW product in the country?
A-1 can assist any importer in creating a program to import new products into the country. We first obtain a sample from the exporter and ensure that all government agencies will allow the importation. This often requires certain certifications or approvals. Next we develop a realistic estimate of the importation cost which includes U.S. duties or user fees, inland freight, delivery transportation costs, inspection fees and cold storage and handling fees. In this way the client receives an accurate cost in ADVANCE of importation. This allows the client to price the product properly and ensure a profit.