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.
Instead of competing directly with the scale of larger ports, Hueneme has built its reputation on flexibility, speed and problem-solving.
The Port That Avoided the Backup
When images of cargo ships stacked offshore became symbolic of pandemic-era supply chain failures, the Port of Hueneme experienced something very different.
Cargo kept moving.
While many ports struggled with congestion and backlogs, Hueneme maintained fluid operations thanks to a logistics strategy built years before the crisis began.
A key factor was the Port’s operating-port model. Unlike most major ports, which function primarily as landlords and rely on third-party terminal operators, the Port of Hueneme owns and operates its marine terminal. That direct control over terminal operations, cargo flow and infrastructure planning allows the Port to make decisions quickly and design solutions tailored to its customers and community.
Years before COVID exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains, Hueneme had already developed a different approach to container handling. Rather than stacking large volumes of containers on terminal property waiting for pickup, Hueneme moves containers almost immediately off port property to nearby private off-site container yards. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspections, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processing and logistics coordination all happen away from the waterfront, preserving valuable terminal capacity and keeping cargo flowing.
The system was originally designed out of necessity. The port sits directly adjacent to residential neighborhoods, condos and beach communities. Trucks backing up into neighborhoods was not an option.
“We don’t have trucks queuing up to pick up containers that are stacked on port,” Lange said. “That would not work very well with our community.”
Instead, containers are discharged from vessels, placed directly onto chassis and moved off site within minutes. That operational model gave the port a major advantage during COVID disruptions.
“We actually created a congestion-free service,” Lange said.
As larger ports experienced gridlock, Hueneme worked with logistics partners, including carriers, trucking providers and federal agencies to establish alternative cargo flows. The port handled essential goods, personal protective equipment and perishables while helping exporters continue moving products during one of the most chaotic logistics periods in modern history.
The experience became a powerful case study in how smaller, more agile ports can complement and even outperform larger facilities during disruptions.
Educating Growers on Export Logistics
Today, one of the port’s biggest priorities is helping agricultural producers better understand export logistics and how Hueneme’s model can work for them. The port regularly attends produce and agricultural trade shows, hosts export workshops and collaborates with economic development organizations and the U.S. Department of Commerce to guide new exporters through the process.
“We really look at ourselves as the conduit to international trade,” Lange said.
That role has become increasingly important as more growers explore overseas markets but lack experience navigating export requirements, documentation, shipping schedules and cold chain logistics.
For first-time exporters especially, the process can feel intimidating. “It’s a daunting thing to be a first-time exporter,” Lange said.
To help bridge that knowledge gap, the Port of Hueneme leverages its role as the license holder for the Oxnard World Trade Center. The designation allows the port to connect businesses with export resources, regulatory guidance and trade development support.
Last year, the port hosted California’s Go-Biz Export Launchpad program, designed to teach businesses how to begin exporting products internationally.
The educational approach reflects a broader philosophy at the port: collaboration over bureaucracy. Rather than forcing growers into rigid systems, port leaders say they actively adjust operations around harvest schedules, shipping needs and customer feedback.
Weekly coordination meetings bring together stevedores, logistics operators and other stakeholders to align shipping windows with agricultural realities.
“They were talking about apple harvesting yesterday,” Lange said during the interview. “They want to harvest through Friday, which means they need receiving on Monday. So, we asked, ‘How do we all work together to make that happen?’”
That customer-first mentality is something the port sees as a competitive advantage.
Building an Export-Focused Future
Historically, the Port of Hueneme built much of its reputation around imports, especially refrigerated perishables arriving from Latin America. Now, the port is aggressively focused on expanding exports.
Many global shipping systems prioritize imports into the U.S. because carriers often want to quickly return empty containers overseas for refilling. As a result, exporters can sometimes struggle to secure equipment, favorable schedules or reliable vessel access.
The Port of Hueneme wants to flip that model. “We want to make the export the head haul,” Lange said.
Port leaders are currently working to develop expanded export-focused services, including potential trans-Pacific opportunities tailored specifically around agricultural exporters’ needs.
Instead of creating schedules solely around import efficiency, the port is asking growers direct questions: What sailing days work best for harvest timing? What receiving windows support perishables most effectively? How can carriers better support year-round agricultural exports?
“The goal is to create a shipping ecosystem where exporters are not treated as secondary considerations, but as primary customers,” Lange said.
That matters for commodities ranging from grapes and citrus to proteins, dairy and other refrigerated products requiring highly coordinated logistics.
“We want the operational setup of the service to be based on the needs of the exporters,” Lange said.
A Port Embedded in Its Community
Another element that distinguishes the Port of Hueneme is how closely connected it remains to the surrounding community. Unlike many ports governed through city structures, Hueneme operates as a California special district with elected harbor commissioners chosen directly by local residents.
That governance structure, combined with the port’s physical proximity to neighborhoods, creates a different dynamic than many industrial ports.
“It’s interwoven into the fabric of the community,” said Miguel Rodriguez, the Port’s Director of Community Relations and Workforce Development.
That connection influences everything from operational decisions to community outreach efforts.
One example is the port’s annual Banana Festival, which opens the waterfront to the public and celebrates the produce industry with educational exhibits, food vendors and family activities.
During the pandemic, when the festival could not be held, the port pivoted to large-scale food distribution efforts called “Feeding the Front Lines,” delivering fresh produce to families in need throughout the community.
For port leaders, those programs reflect a broader responsibility.
“We find ways to do food distributions,” Lange said. “We find ways to support the community when communities are in need.”
Changing Perceptions
One of the biggest misconceptions the port continues trying to correct is that it is part of the Navy. While Navy Base Ventura County shares the same harbor area, the Port of Hueneme is an independent commercial seaport.
Still, the unique relationship between the two entities provides operational advantages. During cargo surges, the port can sometimes use Navy berths through joint-use agreements, creating additional flexibility during busy periods. It is yet another example of how Hueneme has built systems around adaptability rather than scale.
And as California agriculture continues searching for faster, more resilient export pathways, that flexibility may become increasingly valuable.
For growers unfamiliar with the port, Lange hopes the message is simple:
“We’re open to explore opportunities,” she said. “If we’re not offering a service yet, it doesn’t mean we’re not willing to build it.”
For an industry built on timing, perishability and relationships, that willingness to adapt may ultimately be the Port of Hueneme’s greatest export advantage.