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Long Island businesses prepare for ripple effects of East Coast port strike

As ports from Maine to Texas remain shuttered because of a dockworkers strike, businesses across Long Island prepare for supply chain delays.

Jon Dowding

Oct 2, 2024, 12:29 AM

Updated 80 days ago

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As ports from Maine to Texas remain shuttered because of a dockworkers strike, businesses across Long Island prepare for supply chain delays.
Grocery stores could soon see stocking delays for most items, including specialty goods. Joseph Iavarone, one of the co-owners of the Iavarone Brothers, says the strike could impact stocking of every department they deal with.
"The pastas, imported specialties, cheeses. A lot of those things come from overseas and it's going to really affect everything,” he said.
Darren Anselmo, who owns NutriWolf in Farmingdale, says he worries about getting their hands on items to make prepared meals.
"We're definitely concerned about a shortage of paper goods, possibly fruits, any type of ingredients for the meals we make too,” he said.
Alexander Escobar owns Cafe Victoria, a coffee shop in Riverhead. He also owns a business importing coffee from Latin America, mainly Guatemala. He says he tried looking at other ways to import coffee, but it comes at a cost.
"It's expensive,” said Escobar. “The logistics of when it comes down to air it's really high."
Long Island Association president and CEO Matt Cohen says although the strike just started, he says Long Islanders will feel the far-reaching ripple effects.
"Here on Long Island, we're going to feel it,” said Cohen. "Whether it's consumer products or food or automobiles, oil and gas, I mean we're really, it's a double whammy. It's going to hit businesses and it's going to hit consumers."
There's no need to worry just yet. Business experts say consumers will start to feel an impact in a few weeks if the strike continues.