February 23, 2021

By Lynda Kiernan, Global AgInvesting Media

Food and ag investor Arable Capital Partners announced it has made a strategic investment backing Pacific Trellis Fruit / Dulcinea – one of the U.S.’ top year-round growers, importers, and marketers of premium fresh fruit including melons, table grapes, citrus,  cherries, stone fruit, among others, under the Dulcinea brand. 

“It’s an exciting time at Pacific Trellis Fruit as we welcome Arable as our new partner,” said David Sullivan, co-founder and active owner of Pacific Trellis Fruit. “Not only do they bring a wealth of experience, but they will also help open the door to new possibilities in  the future.”

Born in 1999 and headquartered Los Angeles, California, with sales offices in Fresno, California, Gloucester City, New Jersey, and Nogales, Arizona, Pacific Trellis Fruit acquired the Dulcinea Farms brand in 2014, adding PureHeart Mini Seedless Watermelons, Tuscan Style® Cantaloupe and SunnyGold Yellow Mini Seedless Watermelons, among other premium melons such as KISS melons, to its offerings, which already included peaches, plums, nectarines, and cherries.

Aware that by its very nature, agriculture requires a long-term investment outlook, Arable is targeting investments in operations headquartered in the Western region of the U.S. – often with family management or operating teams, along the entire agricultural supply chain – that will have a span of 15 or more years.

One area of focus for the firm has been fresh fruit, and Pacific Trellis Fruit will be joining Arable’s existing category holdings including Oxnard, California-based Fresh Innovations California, a leader in the fresh sliced apple category, acquired in April 2018; and Stockton, California-based Farmington Fresh Cuts, a processor of fresh sliced apples, oranges, pears, and other packaged fruit, acquired in June 2018. 

“Pacific Trellis Fruit with its Dulcinea brand and experienced management team is exactly what Arable is looking for as an addition to  our portfolio,” said Greg Richards, managing director, Arable Capital Partners. “This partnership represents a new platform investment for Arable that is well positioned for continued success and growth opportunities.”

Not only is Pacific Trellis/Dulcinea well positioned for growth and success in its category, but Arable is well positioned through its fresh fruit platform of investments to capitalize upon ever-climbing demand in the U.S. for fresh fruit. Over the course of the decade between 2009-2019, strong demand for fresh fruits has driven imports to constantly increase to keep up, growing by $8.9 billion over that 10-year period. 

“Being one of North America’s top year-round importers, growers and marketers of premium fresh fruit made Pacific Trellis Fruit an  attractive company for us to partner with,” said Derek Yurosek, managing director, Arable Capital Partners. “Pacific Trellis Fruit is  poised to do big things, and we plan on leveraging our tenure and experience in the industry to help them deliver.”

As part of Pacific Trellis’ strategic growth plan, the company has also named Josh Leichter as its new CEO. Leichter has 25 years of experience in the fresh fruit industry, most recently as the general manager for Pacific Trellis itself. In his new role, Leichter will be tasked with establishing the company’s short and long-term growth strategy, and managing its execution.

“Pacific Trellis Fruit has become a leading company in the industry due to the solid team we have in place in addition to strong  grower partnerships, customer relationships and the Dulcinea brand,” said Leichter. “I look forward to helping the company deliver continued success and leading the people who have helped make Pacific Trellis Fruit what it is today.”

– Lynda Kiernan is editor with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and  Agtech Intel News, and HighQuest Group’s Oilseed & Grain News. She is also a contributor to the GAI Gazette. She can be reached at lkiernan@globalaginvesting.com.