OREANDA-NEWS. Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R), a leader in commercial fleet management, dedicated transportation, and supply chain solutions, today announced that NatureSweet, Ltd., leading grower of premium tomatoes in North America, is renewing and expanding its Ryder Dedicated Transportation Solutions agreement to support Mexico operations.

In addition to the current solutions involved in the renewal, new lanes will be added to support NatureSweet, Ltd.’s growing cross border operations. As NatureSweet, Ltd.’s, transportation partner, Ryder offers time-sensitive transportation services throughout the Company’s North American network with specialized vehicles, in-house maintenance, skilled professional drivers, and engineering support.

“The Ryder Dedicated Transportation Solution plays an important role in connecting NatureSweet, Ltd.’s production, distribution centers, and cross border networks, which we refer to as intra-farm moves,” said Matt Volker, NatureSweet, Ltd. Vice President for Supply Chain. “These intra-farm lanes are truly the backbone of our transportation network, so Ryder’s proven workforce and dedication to on-time performance provide timely and efficient delivery solutions in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Partnering with companies that share NatureSweet’s dedication to high standards of service levels is crucial to our success, and Ryder continues to be a critical service partner to meet our service needs, which makes us confident about our continued relationship.”

Ryder has provided its Dedicated Transportation Solutions to NatureSweet, Ltd. since 2009. The company turned to Ryder for highly skilled drivers and specialized vehicles operating from multiple locations in Mexico. The Ryder Dedicated Transportation Solution makes delivering high-truckload volumes easier with access to specialized equipment to deliver premium packaged tomatoes. Over the last six years NatureSweet, Ltd.’s intra-farm network has achieved improved lead times, higher inventory turns, and enhanced customer service. Ryder has also helped the company experience savings through network optimization initiatives that have result in improved trailer optimization, shipment optimization, and more efficient scheduling of deliveries.

“We are thrilled to continue doing business with NatureSweet, Ltd. and cultivate our longstanding relationship with them,” said Gene Sevilla, Vice President of Ryder International Supply Chain Solutions. “Ryder focuses on ensuring that our nationwide network and cross border solutions with Mexico and Canada continues to provide customers with logistics expertise, knowledge, and know-how needed to ensure that they keep their businesses both moving and growing.”

Ryder provides comprehensive logistics and supply chain management solutions to companies with operations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, as well as in Singapore. In Mexico, Ryder manages more than 3.6 million square feet of warehouse space and more than 3 million square feet of yard space, as well as contracts with more than 100 Mexican carriers. The Company also handles more than 11,800 cross-border freight movements between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico per month. Globally, the Ryder Supply Chain Solutions business segment manages more than 40 million square feet of warehouse space and contracts with multiple carriers in all modes of transportation in the markets it serves.

The Company, founded in 1933, operates behind the scenes, managing critical transportation and logistics functions for more than 50,000 customers, many of which make the products that consumers use every day. Ryder employs more than 33,000 people and manages a fleet of 231,900 commercial vehicles.

About Ryder

Ryder is a FORTUNE 500® commercial fleet management, dedicated transportation, and supply chain solutions company. Ryder’s stock (NYSE:R) is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Ryder has been named among FORTUNE’s World’s Most Admired Companies, and has been recognized for its industry-leading practices in third-party logistics, environmentally-friendly fleet and supply chain solutions, and world-class safety and security programs. The Company is a proud member of the American Red Cross Disaster Responder Program, supporting national and local disaster preparedness and response efforts.

About NatureSweet, Ltd.

NatureSweet, Ltd. is the leading grower of premium fresh tomatoes in North America. Always vine-ripened and hand-picked at the peak of freshness, only NatureSweet, Ltd.® tomatoes guarantee great taste all year round. NatureSweet, Ltd. tomatoes are carefully grown, harvested and packaged by more than 6,000 full-time associates, and are sold at major grocers, mass retailers, club stores and food service operators in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Known for award-winning quality and innovative packaging, NatureSweet, Ltd. is also committed to having a positive social, environmental and economic impact on the communities in which they operate.