GreenFruit grows with a new alliance of avocado leaders

The international avocado industry has seen another strategic move. GreenFruit Avocados, a California-based company specializing in ripening, cold storage, and distribution, was acquired by a group of investors and executives with extensive experience in the business. This acquisition aims to consolidate a vertically integrated model with a global reach and a strong operational base in the Americas.

The transaction brings together Scott Bauwens and Jamie Johnson, partners at Simpatica, one of the leading avocado producers in California; Jim Donovan, former senior vice president of Global Sourcing at Mission Produce; and Tahuaycani, a Spanish investment firm linked to Agrícola Cerro Prieto (ACP Agro), one of the largest avocado producers in Peru.

The acquisition was completed through the new holding company Last Mile, created specifically to take full control of GreenFruit Avocados. Furthermore, the transaction is financially backed by an investment fund managed by Ospraie Management, a New York-based firm specializing in real assets related to agriculture, energy, metals, mining, processing, and logistics.

A new model of vertical integration

The objective of this new structure is clear: to control the entire supply chain, from production to final delivery, in a context where the avocado category faces increasing global consolidation.

GreenFruit will operate as a producer, packer, exporter, and ripener in North and South America, strengthening its year-round supply capacity thanks to the combination of production in California, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and other strategic markets.

Tahuaycani's connection with ACP Agro provides a relevant platform from Peru, where the company manages more than 13,000 agricultural acres, of which more than 4,000 correspond to avocado production with exports to North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe.

Added to this is Simpatica's production base, which controls more than 6,000 agricultural acres, including nearly 1,400 acres of avocado orchards established in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Riverside counties, in addition to operations in Brazil.

Scott Bauwens will leave his position as CEO of Simpatica to become Chief Executive Officer of GreenFruit Avocados. His background includes more than 21 years of experience in the industry, as well as participation on the Hass Avocado Board and the California Avocado Commission.

Jim Donovan, with more than 36 years of experience at Mission Produce, will assume the role of Executive Chairman of the board, while Brian Gomez, one of the original owners of GreenFruit, will continue as president of sales.

Infrastructure and proximity to the market

GreenFruit will maintain its headquarters in Orange County, California, but will expand its sourcing and distribution operations internationally. Currently, the company has ripening and distribution centers in Southern California, Texas, Chicago, Miami, Pennsylvania, Toronto, and Vancouver—a network that allows it to serve the main distribution channels in North America.

The company was founded in 2014 and has built a solid track record in ripening, cold storage and logistics, sourcing from California, Mexico, Colombia and Peru.

According to Jim Donovan, the strategy responds to a specific vision about the future of the business.

“The avocado industry rewards companies that control the supply chain and bring together the right leadership, the right producers, and the necessary capital,” the executive noted during the official announcement.

The company explains that maintaining business relationships with customers and producers will be a priority, as well as consolidating a proposition based on quality, price stability, and operational reliability.

A gamble amidst consolidation

The move comes at a time when the global avocado market is going through a stage of strong business consolidation, marked by the need to ensure supply, logistical efficiency and proximity to destination markets.

In this scenario, GreenFruit seeks to position itself as an alternative with total control of the process, from the field to the final consumer.

The name of the new holding company, Last Mile, reflects precisely that vision: to dominate the “last mile” of the supply chain, considered by its partners as the most critical point to guarantee fruit in optimal condition to the market.

The strategy also includes long-term investment in people, infrastructure, and value-added operations, with the aim of strengthening a platform that combines in-house production, global sourcing, and a strategic presence in key consumer markets.

More than an acquisition, the operation represents a new stage for GreenFruit and a clear signal of where the international avocado industry is heading: more integrated companies, greater logistical control, and decisions aimed at ensuring consistency in an increasingly demanding market.