Jupiter, Fla.-based fresh produce grower-packer-importer Farm Direct Partners has appointed produce industry specialists Jackie Carrillo and Dan Acevedo as key executives in what the company says is a strategic move to advance its growth in the imported lime category.
USDA data shows U.S. lime imports by value have risen 69.5% since 2020, reaching nearly $860 million U.S. dollars for the 2023-24 market year, however, U.S. imports by volume have grown a mere 3.6% during the same period, according to a news release. The discrepancy highlights the market’s need to expand its sourcing capabilities and add new regions of production, the company says.
“What we’ve seen in the lime space is truly incredible,” Dax Cooke, head of sales for Farm Direct Partners, said in the release. “The push for origin diversification has grown tremendously. There’s a widespread understanding in the market that new regions of production need to be integrated into the supply chain.”
Farm Direct Partners, which brings in fresh lime from its subsidiaries in Colombia, Peru, and elsewhere, says it has seen exponential growth over the past few years.
“Our customers have been able to increase their unit sales significantly by diversifying their sourcing strategies to include lime from South America,” Cooke said. “To continue this momentum, we’ve added new key executives Jackie Carrillo and Dan Acevedo.”
Carrillo will serve as executive vice president of sales.
“Jackie has been both the largest buyer of limes in the world during her time as sourcing manager for Walmart and one of the largest sellers of limes during her time at Sicar Farms,” Cooke said. “By leveraging Jackie’s category knowledge, we will be able to improve pricing for our customers by placing the right fruit with the right clients.”
“Farm Direct Partners is at the forefront of an industrywide evolution,” Carrillo said in the release. “While Mexico will continue to be a key supplier for the U.S. market, maintaining security of supply will require a multi-origin approach. With Farm Direct Partners, my goal is to continue to work to reduce price volatility and improve stability for customers.”
Acevedo will serve as director of business development.
“Dan has extensive experience with developing new-origin products into national and regional programs,” Cooke said. “Dan will be spearheading our business development and national marketing programs, leveraging his knowledge of retail, food service, and wholesale markets across North America to allow us to better serve customers and improve pricing.”
“For years I’ve been closely following the growth of Farm Direct Partners and the leading role that the company has played in developing Colombian lime exports,” Acevedo said in the release. “Colombia is a country with incredible agricultural potential, and it’s exciting to be a part of a company that’s playing a leading role in bringing Colombian produce to U.S. consumers.”
Acevedo said he’s also been conscious of the need for origin diversification, not only in lime but across many product categories.
“Over my 25 years of experience in fresh produce, including Colombian lime and avocado most recently, I’ve come to understand that markets can’t come to over-rely on a single supplier, which in the case of lime is Mexico,” Acevedo said. “Colombia and other countries can be a great hedge against volatility.”
Carrillo and Acevedo will be supporting Farm Direct Partners at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Foodservice Conference, set for July 25-26 in Monterey, Calif., the release said.
