JUPITER, FL - Being the middle of a hot summer, consumers might have citrus on their mind. In fact, recent data has shown a rise in United States lime imports have increased 69.5 percent since 2020. Farm Direct Partners (FDP) has recently appointed two key executives, Jackie Carrillo and Dan Acevedo, to lead the charge in advancing growth in the imported lime category as the company seeks to expand its sourcing capabilities and add new regions of production.

“What we’ve seen in the lime space is truly incredible,” said Dax Cooke, Head of Sales. “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. Our customers have been able to increase their unit sales significantly by diversifying their sourcing strategies to include lime from South America. To continue this momentum, we’ve added new key executives.”

FDP brings fresh limes from subsidiaries in Colombia, Peru, and elsewhere, and has seen exponential growth over the past few years with this diversification.

“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,” added Cooke. “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."

FDP, a multi-origin grower, packer, and distributor exists to provide much-needed origin diversification in the lime space, a release stated.

“It’s very exciting to be joining this team,” said Jackie Carrillo, Executive Vice President of Sales. “Farm Direct Partners is at the forefront of an industry-wide evolution. 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.”

The company offers seedless limes and key limes, as well as organics from Colombia, Peru, and more.

“Dan has extensive experience with developing new-origin products into national and regional programs,” explained Cooke. “Dan will be spearheading our business development and national marketing programs, leveraging his knowledge of retail, foodservice, and wholesale markets across North America to allow us to better serve customers and improve pricing.”

For years, FDP’s mission has been to build a more cost-effective and stable lime supply chain, doing so by connecting stakeholders and going directly to the farms.

“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,” said Dan Acevedo, Director of Business Development. “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. I’ve also been very 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. Colombia and other countries can be a great hedge against volatility.”

Well, I know where my next limes will be coming from!

Margs, anyone?

WASHINGTON, DC - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that it has imposed sanctions on California Fresh Citrus Company of Porterville, California, for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). The sanctions include barring the company and its principal operator from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without USDA approval.

Direct From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

California Fresh Citrus Company failed to pay $1,128,040 to two sellers for produce that was purchased, received, and accepted in interstate and foreign commerce from March 2019 to March 2020. This is in violation of the PACA. California Fresh Citrus Company cannot operate in the produce industry until March 28, 2026, and then only after they apply for and are issued a new PACA license by USDA.

The company’s principals, Vincent Lobue and Christine Lobue, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until March 28, 2025, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed willful, repeated, and flagrant violations of PACA, as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.

By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.

To read the release in its entirety, click here.

MONTEREY, CA - While the Organic Produce Summit may have ended, the impacts of the incredible event are still being felt. Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit with a focus on delivering fresh fruits and vegetables directly to families, hosted a volunteer event during the show, providing 1,000 families in Monterey County with fresh produce.

“The support of the produce industry is instrumental in the success of our program,” said Rich Dachman, Chief Executive Officer of Brighter Bites. “We are thankful for the volunteers that helped make this distribution possible and also the produce donors who provided organic fruits and vegetables to fill the boxes for each of the 1,000 families served in Monterey County.”

Volunteers came together to sort and pack the fresh produce donation, delivering it to 1,000 families across four sites, including Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, Frank Ledesma, and First Tee.

As a press release shared, the families participating in the program received approximately 50 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables along with recipes and tips to encourage healthier eating habits and food choices.

"The inaugural Seed to Service volunteer event with Brighter Bites was a tremendous success, and we are thrilled with how it went!” said Keigan Roos, Event Manager for Organic Produce Summit. “We look forward to continuing this event at OPS in the future and giving back to our community by providing fresh fruits and vegetables. Together, we can make a lasting impact and support the health and well-being of our community."

The donation was made possible with the help of several industry powerhouses, including Taylor Farms, Sunkist Growers, Driscoll’s, Trinity Fruit Company, Braga Fresh, and Monterey Mushrooms.

Cheers to Brighter Bites, the Organic Produce Summit, and the participating suppliers for making a huge impact on 1,000 families!

ANUK will continue to cover the latest initiatives and industry updates, so stick around.

WATSONVILLE, CA - At Monterey Mushrooms, we’re cultivating more than a meal; we’re nurturing a sustainable future. We recently enhanced the recyclability of our packaging by incorporating near-infrared sortable (NIR) material in our rPET tills.

Here’s What’s in Store.

This spring, we made a significant change to enhance the recyclability of our packaging, and we’re excited to share the potential benefits with you.

Our rPET tills are produced from 100 percent recycled materials sourced entirely from North America, which reduces plastic waste in landfills and contributes to a circular economy. By using rPET, the mushroom industry can give multiple lives to mixed-color recycled PET materials, and the use of NIR sortable content ensures the packaging can be properly sorted and recycled into new products.

Choosing recycled PET content over virgin PET significantly reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. According to Hartman Group Research, studies have shown that the production of recycled PET requires 91.6 percent less energy and water compared to manufacturing virgin PET.

Additionally, rPET with NIR sortable colorant may provide long-term cost advantages compared to other colors, including clear rPET.

By choosing black rPET with NIR sortable colorant, we’re not just packaging mushrooms, we’re packaging a greener future.

Thank you for watching What’s in Store.

DELANO, CA - Four Star Fruit, in its continuous expansion of table grape products and commitment to customer value, is making a significant stride. The company is focusing its efforts on its recently acquired Holiday grape program, a move that underscores its strategic growth and dedication to revitalizing the variety in the retail marketplace.

“With the acquisition from Agriculture Capital of Columbine Vineyards’ Holiday grape program, our goal is to bring the Holiday back to meet the quality needs of our customers,” said Jack Campbell, President of Four Star Fruit. “Recognizing the opportunity to supply the market with a high-quality table grape by using a variety with a successful past, Four Star Fruit sought to re-establish the Holiday by collaborating with a member of the M. Caratan family to understand the trade secrets that made the Holiday a success. That information, along with the technological farming advances and the marketing prowess provided by Four Star Fruit, has catapulted the Holiday back to prominence.”

Four Star Fruit is committed to continuing the legacy left behind by the century of work that the M. Caratan family did by working together in California to develop, grow, and ship table grapes for the world to enjoy.

The M. Caratan Family business model began with commercializing existing varieties in the U.S. along with those that came from remote areas of the world. Always trying to have something new, they set up a breeding project in Argentina where they were successful in creating the Holiday variety. The Holiday grape, sought after by every major chain in the U.S. and importers worldwide as the company tells us, became the pinnacle of the family's success.

As the Holiday grape continues to gain continued investment and support from Four Star Fruit, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow for updates and more!