FEATURE STORY “THE PORT THAT FARMERS BUILT” By Michelle Rivera, Senior Communications Manager
At the height of the supply chain crisis, cargo ships floated offshore for days, sometimes weeks, waiting to enter California ports. But not at the Port of Hueneme. There, containers kept moving. Trucks rolled in and out, perishables made their deadlines and exporters found space for freight that other ports couldn’t handle. While congestion dominated headlines across the industry, this relatively small-but-nimble port tucked along the Ventura County coastline quietly built a reputation for something rare: reliability. Long known as a specialized perishables gateway, the port is now emerging as an increasingly important player for California agriculture exports; not because it’s the biggest, but because it operates differently. Port leaders are betting that growers want more than vessel space. Growers want flexibility, speed, communication and education on how to navigate an export system that can feel intimidating, especially for first-time exporters. It’s an ambitious goal for a port originally built by local farmers who believed Ventura County needed its own export gateway. Nearly a century later, that agricultural mindset still shapes how Hueneme approaches business: asking growers what their needs are first, then building operations around them. A Port Built for Agriculture Known as “The Port That Farmers Built,” the harbor was originally funded through private investment after local
agricultural leaders pushed for a port that could better serve Ventura County’s growing agricultural economy. “We’re founded as a port that was built for the needs of the farmers who said, ‘We need a port here to export our goods,’” said Stacy Lange, Chief Commercial and Public Affairs Officer for the Port of Hueneme. That legacy still shapes the port’s identity today, particularly as it works to educate growers about export opportunities that may not exist at larger, more congested ports. Unlike many major port complexes, the Port of Hueneme functions with a much smaller footprint, operating on roughly 120 acres. But despite its size, it ranks fifth nationally for fresh produce imports.
33 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com July – September 2026
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