Arleth Calogero’s primary objective is to ensure West Pak delivers a consistent, high-quality avocado experience year-round. Her role as director of fruit procurement and imports is vital to building the resilient global network that underpins West Pak’s AVO360 promise, requiring constant adaptability to market shifts, logistics, and varied grower partnerships across regions such as Mexico, Colombia, and California. In a recent interview, Arleth shares her journey, the complexities of global sourcing, and her passion for delivering reliability and trust to customers.
How do you define your role in shaping global sourcing at West Pak, and what does that responsibility look like day to day?
Arleth: I see my role as the connector between global supply and our customers’ expectations—ensuring we deliver a consistent, high-quality avocado experience year-round. At West Pak, global sourcing isn’t just about securing fruit; it’s about building a resilient, strategic network that supports the AVO360 promise from the ground up.
Day-to-day, that means working closely with our grower partners across multiple regions, monitoring crop conditions, and aligning supply with demand in real time. It also involves anticipating market shifts, managing logistics, and collaborating cross-functionally with sales, quality control, and operations to ensure seamless execution.
Ultimately, my responsibility is to create stability in a dynamic global market so our customers can rely on us not just for supply, but for insight, consistency, and a tailored approach that drives their success.
What does delivering the AVO360 experience mean from a global sourcing perspective?
Arleth: Delivering the AVO360 experience from a global sourcing perspective is a great responsibility—it means ensuring that every part of the supply chain works together to consistently deliver the highest quality avocados to our customers year-round.
For us, it starts at the source. We are continuously researching and applying new techniques in our groves, while also collaborating and sharing best practices with our grower partners around the world. This alliance allows us to strengthen the overall quality and consistency of our supply.
At the same time, we work closely with our ripening, quality control, and sales teams to make sure that what we source translates into a great eating experience for the end consumer. Ultimately, AVO360 means taking a full-circle approach—where innovation at origin, strong partnerships, and internal alignment all come together to drive customer satisfaction.
What does it truly take to maintain a consistent, high-quality avocado supply across multiple regions and seasons?
Arleth: It starts with a strong commitment to our customers and a deep understanding that no two seasons are ever the same. Agriculture is constantly influenced by changing conditions, and that’s where experience and adaptability make the difference.
Maintaining consistency requires a true team effort across the entire supply chain. It begins at harvest—working closely with our crews to ensure fruit is picked at the right time and handled properly from the start. From there, it’s about maintaining strict controls throughout the process, including timely receiving, proper temperature management during packing, and careful monitoring during transit.
Adhering to strict controls becomes even more critical toward the end of a season, when quality can be more challenging to maintain. By staying proactive, aligned, and detail-oriented at every step, we deliver a reliable, high-quality product regardless of the region or time of year.
How do you approach sourcing from regions like Colombia and Mexico, and what makes each of those programs unique, from farming practices to certifications and packing operations?
Arleth: Mexico has evolved significantly over the years, particularly in traceability and compliance. Today, there is a strong focus on systems and certifications, such as ProForest and the updated CCOF requirements, that help ensure fruit meets both regulatory and sustainability standards.
Our approach starts before harvest. We work closely with growers to ensure they align with both industry and West Pak requirements. From there, our compliance team conducts an additional layer of verification before any fruit enters our facilities. This structured, multi-step process allows us to maintain confidence in the product’s quality, consistency, and integrity.
Our experience in Mexico has provided a strong foundation for developing our Colombia program. While each region presents unique challenges, whether it’s climate, topography, or infrastructure, we’ve been able to successfully adapt our growing and sourcing strategies.
In Colombia, timing and logistics are critical. We’ve focused on refining the process from harvest through arrival, tightening timelines, and maintaining strict cold chain control. This focus has consistently enhanced the quality and reliability of our fruit. Although Colombia is a relatively new source for us, we’ve leveraged our expertise to build a strong, growing program.
Together, these programs reflect what AVO360 is all about—a fully integrated, global approach where sourcing expertise, strong grower partnerships, and operational precision come together to deliver a consistent, high-quality avocado experience our customers can trust.
As we enter California season, how does West Pak balance and support sourcing across both local programs and global supply throughout the year?
Arleth: California season is a key component of our overall sourcing strategy. It provides a fresh, domestic option for our customers at a time when other major origins are naturally transitioning or seeing reduced volumes.
This timing is critical, as it allows us to seamlessly shift supply while maintaining consistency, especially for West Coast customers who benefit from closer proximity and enhanced freshness. At the same time, we continue to integrate California fruit into our broader global program, ensuring we’re balancing supply, quality, and demand across all regions.
Our long-standing partnerships with California growers play an important role in this. They’ve enabled us to build a reliable, consistent local program that complements our international sourcing efforts.
Ultimately, it’s about creating a well-balanced, year-round supply strategy where local and global programs work together to support the AVO360 experience and deliver the quality, freshness, and dependability our customers expect.
What’s something people might not realize about global sourcing?
Arleth: Global sourcing today is about more than just supply; it’s about delivering consistency, transparency, and value across the entire supply chain.
At West Pak, we see an opportunity to continue building a truly global, fully integrated sourcing model that supports the AVO360 experience. That means expanding into new regions, strengthening our grower partnerships, and maintaining strict quality and compliance standards at every step. Because of our efforts, we’re able to provide our customers with a dependable, year-round avocado program that adapts to market needs while consistently delivering the quality they expect.
What part of your work are you most proud of?
Arleth: What I’m most proud of is our ability to provide consistent, high-quality options to our customers year-round. By working across multiple growing regions, we’re able to source avocados at the peak of each season and make that transition seamless.
That consistency doesn’t just support our customers—it also ensures the end consumer has a great experience every time. Being part of building reliability and trust across the supply chain is something I take great pride in.
Have you always been in the produce industry?
Arleth: No, I started my career in the garment industry, which was very different from the produce industry. There wasn’t the same time sensitivity—products didn’t have a shelf life, so the pace was less intense.
Transitioning into produce introduced me to a much more dynamic, fast-paced environment where timing and handling are critical. But despite the differences, the core objective remains the same: customer satisfaction.
How long have you been with West Pak, and what was your journey to your current position?
Arleth: I’ve been with West Pak for 10 years, and it’s truly been a continuous learning experience. I started in an entry-level role and had the opportunity to grow within the company, gaining exposure to many aspects of the business. From processing orders and coordinating logistics to eventually moving into sourcing for specific programs, each step gave me a deeper understanding of the industry and its challenges. That progression has allowed me to build a well-rounded perspective, which I bring into my role today.
What do you love most about what you do?
Arleth: What I love most is that no two days are ever the same. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, a new challenge comes up, and that keeps the job exciting. It’s a dynamic industry that constantly pushes you to adapt, learn, and improve, and that’s something I really enjoy.
What strengths do you bring to your role?
Arleth: Adaptability is a key strength I bring to my role. The nature of global sourcing means plans can change quickly, whether it’s due to weather, logistics, or market conditions. Being able to adjust, stay proactive, and find solutions in real time is essential, and it’s something I’ve developed throughout my experience.
What is the most challenging aspect (not covered above)?
Arleth: One of the most complex challenges is navigating the impact of social and political factors on global trade. These events can influence everything from logistics and compliance to market demand. Managing that uncertainty requires a proactive approach and the ability to adapt quickly to maintain consistency for our customers.
What do you like best about working at West Pak?
Arleth: What I like most about working at West Pak is the opportunity to continuously learn and grow professionally. It’s a company that truly cares about its people and invests in their development. It’s also a great place for new talent. Through strong internship programs, we’re able to bring in individuals who are interested in the industry and help them grow—many of whom go on to become part of the West Pak family.
