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Paul Taylor / Getty Images Asian demand for empty shipping containers is causing a backlog of agricultural goods at West Coast ports. Asia s willingness to pay a premium for empty shipping containers is causing a backlog of farm goods at West Coast ports. The West s ability to export agricultural goods suffered a significant blow at the outset of the yearlong pandemic that began last year. Instead of improving, things have gotten worse as maritime shipping companies are prioritizing empty containers for return to China over filling them with agricultural exports. The impacts are hurting California tree nut exporters particularly hard as almond prices have tanked and growers are trying to recover from a global economic meltdown. ....