Faison entrepreneur and Farm Fresh Produce Inc. owner Steven Ceccarelli has been named the Small Business Administration North Carolina Small Business Person of the Year.
“I’m honored to receive this prestigious award, and very proud to represent grassroots businesses here in North Carolina," said Ceccarelli.
Ceccarelli got his start in the wholesale produce business in his home country of Canada, and in 2004 emigrated to the US as an export consultant for an organization interested in exporting sweet potatoes. After four years in this role, Steven moved to Faison, where he focused on export markets.
In 2010 Ceccarelli founded Farm Fresh Produce in Faison with a handful of employees. Nine years later, Farm Fresh Produce is an industry leader in the international export of sweet potatoes - with a new 20,000 foot state-of-the-art packing facility and curing barn - one of two facilities employing over 80 people and recognizing $23M in sales in 2018.
But revenue isn’t the main focus at Farm Fresh Produce. In 2017, Farm Fresh became the first US fruit and vegetable grower to be recognized as a fully compliant GLOBAL G.A.P. GRASP certified business - a voluntary assessment that ensures the highest standards in worker health and safety.
Although Farm Fresh Produce has small town roots, it’s international reach is large in scope. “The sweet potato industry represents 95% of our international business. We’re considered a small business, but Farm Fresh Produce works with numerous large global clients. In addition to our North American distribution center here in North Carolina, we have a second center and sales team in Amsterdam, and we do a tremendous amount of business in Europe and are growing our clientele all over the world” Ceccarelli said.
Ceccarelli added: “I’m humbled to receive this award, but none of this would have been possible without my family, employees and growers who have worked with me every step of the way. You’re only as good as the people who work with you.”
Linda McMahon, head of the Small Business Administration, announced the 2019 Small Business Persons of the Year winners from all 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico and Guam, saying the winners showed innovation, growth, and commitment to the community. Ceccarelli has been invited to join the other winners in Washington DC May 5-6 where the SBA will pick the 2019 Small Business Person of the Year from one of the 53 winners across the United States.
For more information:
Todd Weeks
todd@surfarimarketing.com
Tel: +1.919.273.4634