Lime importer names industry specialists to leadership roles

U.S.-based fresh produce grower, packer and importer Farm Direct Partners (FDP) has named two produce industry specialists to key leadership positions aimed at driving the company’s growth in the imported lime category.

Jackie Carrillo is the company’s new executive vice president of sales, while Dan Acevedo is the director of business development.

According to USDA data, U.S. lime imports by value have risen 69.5% since 2020, reaching nearly $860 million the 2023/24 market year. During the same period, U.S. imports by volume have grown 3.6%, highlighting a need to expand market sources and to add new production regions, according to a news release from FDP.

“What we’ve seen in the lime space is truly incredible,” Dax Cooke, FDP head of sales, 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.”

FDP, which brings in fresh lime primarily from its subsidiaries in Colombia, Peru and Mexico, has seen exponential growth over the past few years, according to the company.

“Our customers have been able to increase their unit sales significantly by diversifying their sourcing strategies to include lime from South America,” Cook said. “To continue this momentum, we’ve added new key executives Jackie Carrillo and Dan Acevedo.”

The hires will be announced at the International Fresh Produce Association in Monterey, California, July 25-26.

Carrillo previously served as director of sales for Sicar Farms, a prominent Mexican lime supplier, from 2018 to 2024, and as sourcing manager in the lime category for Walmart from 2011 to 2018.

“It’s very exciting to be joining this team,” Carrillo said. “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.”

Acevedo, who has more than 25 years of fresh produce industry experience, was formerly director of business development at Green Avocados.

“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.

“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. … 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.”

Founded in 2019, Farm Direct Partners services 14 U.S. states with fresh seedless lime and other products.