CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Officials from the Port of Corpus Christi are collaborating closely with the local agriculture industry, acknowledging that the thriving energy sector has been a top priority.
Farmers are seeking ways to save money and expedite their product transport by utilizing the port. After all, the agriculture industry in the Gulf region has an economic impact of $10.6 billion.
Gulf Compress CEO Robert Swize approached port commissioners, inquiring if they would collaborate with the agriculture industry to enhance their partnership and invest in the future of agriculture, mirroring the port's commitment to the energy sector.
"We want to be a part of the solution," Port CEO Kent Britton. "It's not uncommon for us to deploy our capital when we are talking with a new customer for example and those are kind of the hot projects whenever they come up but that does not mean we can't do that with existing customers."
This year's cotton crop was dismal. Gulf Compress is a regional cooperative that manages 60 percent of the cotton grown south of Interstate 10. This year was challenging due to the drought.
"We are going to handle the lowest totals we've had in the last seven years about 250,000 bales. Normally, will handle anywhere from 600 to 700,000 bales in our growing region," Swize said.
3NEWS asked Swize precisely what the port could do to assist farmers.
"Expand some of the logistics and the infrastructure that our farmers really need to be able to move their product around the world, that commodity, whether it be grain or cotton," Swize said.
Britton said that the port previously had two grain elevators but now has only one. This is a matter the two sides intend to discuss and develop plans to expand the agriculture industry's presence at the port.
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