As sustainable real asset investor Agriculture Capital (AC) positions itself for accelerated growth, the company has appointed Darren Filkins to its leadership team as President of its Dinuba, CA-based operations subsidiary. In Filkins’ role, he will have oversight over Suntreat sales and marketing, Central Valley farming operations, Tree Source Nursery, and AC Foods Legacy packing and shipping in Dinuba, CA. and AC Foods Lindsay packing and shipping in Lindsay, CA .
“AC is taking a hands-on operator approach to responsible growing, harvesting, packaging, and marketing of fresh fruits and nuts that support healthy people and healthy communities,” Filkins stated. “The company’s vertical integration investment model creates an opportunity for seasoned operators, like me, to lead diverse teams with a shared commitment to excellence, accountability, transparency, and stewardship. It exemplifies the type of progressive agriculture company that I wanted to be associated with.”
Filkins brings a proven track record to the company from his time at Fresh Choice Produce, D’Arrigo Brothers, Tanimura and Antle, and Bolthouse Farms, as well as his tenure with the Nickel Family as CEO. Filkins officially joined the AC team on May 1, 2017.
“Darren joins our team with extensive knowledge of the grower side of the business, as well as packing, processing, and distribution experience across several different types of produce,” Principal Tom Avinelis, said. “Darren has traversed the agricultural landscape from citrus, almonds, lettuce, and carrots to tomatoes and alfalfa. His experience in sales, farm management, and organization systems management, as well as his track record of building trust and respect are the cross-range of skills that we have been looking for to lead our operations group.”
Filkins joins the company just as its packing and shipping facility, AC Foods Legacy, is undergoing a citrus line automation project. The new state-of-the-art sorting and packaging technology will make AC Foods Legacy a premier packing and shipping facility in the fresh produce industry. Filkins will also work closely with AC Foods farm managers as Suntreat increases its Sumo Citrus acreage, Cara Cara, and Blood Orange acreage, as well as its high-brix navel and Valencia program.
“We are in a great position for the future,” stated Filkins. “We control every aspect of the process from seed-to-fork. We could not be better setup for success. It is a privilege to lead this team.”