Colombia Avocado Board elects new board members
Last month, the Colombia Avocado Board held its annual meeting to elect two new members to its board of directors. The pair will be vital in growing awareness and consumption of Colombian avocados in the U.S. market.
New to the nine-member board of directors are Brian Gomez, importer director from GreenFruit Avocados, and Kathryn Mejía Vergel, CAB vice chair and Corpohass director.
Currently serving board members are:
- Ricardo Uribe, CAB chair and exporter director from Cartama
- Brock Becker, CAB secretary and importer director from Mission Produce
- Kellen Newhouse, CAB treasurer and importer director from West Pak Avocado Inc.
- Mauricio Moranth, CAB exporter director from Montana Fruits
- Ricardo Mejia, CAB exporter director from Fruty Green
- Sergio Plata Ortiz, CAB exporter director from Baika Fruit
- Dustin Hahn, CAB importer director from Naturipe
Gomez is replacing Gerardo Huerta of Del Rey Avocado, and Mejía is replacing Jorge Restrepo of Corpohass.
“The Colombia Avocado Board congratulates and is grateful to Mr. Gomez and Ms. Mejía for accepting their appointments to the board,” said CAB Managing Director Manuel Michel. “Their participation will be invaluable as we prepare for another record-breaking export year. Our unique growing region allows for the production of avocados year-round providing stability and consistency for our buyers.”
Colombian avocados have been approved to ship into the United States since 2019. Import volume to the United States has grown rapidly over the last several years with an estimated 5 percent increase in Hass avocado production this past year. Colombia is one of the top avocado exporters and anticipates an increase in avocado consumption leading to more opportunities within the domestic market.
