Our management team has many years of experience in agriculture, land procurement in Panama, and agricultural investment opportunities.
>100years
farming & investing experience
James Gooden
C.E.O. / Owner
James is originally from Houston Texas where, after receiving his primary education, was employed by Remington Oil & Gas to work on oil platforms in the early 2000’s. Following this, he moved to Panama in 2007 where he attended the UNIVERSIDAD AMERICANA and earned a law degree. While Mr. Gooden was earning his degree, he was employed by the law firm of Gray & Co as a legal assistant and later by Infante y Perez Almillano as a Para-legal.
After receiving his law degree, James achieved success in a number of business ventures in Panama. Among these were buying, renovating, and selling single-family homes, investing in different types of real estate throughout Panama.
In 2017, James started a development company (Lataminvest co) undertaking a challenging agriculture project (Colorada Fresh Pineapples), raising money and successfully delivering 19% returns for his investors. He is currently running Colorada Fresh Pineapples (a 100 acre farm) successfully in Panama.
James´ latest endeavor is the development of a 20 acre ocean/beachfront, private gated estate lot community located on the Caribbean coast of Panama.
After receiving his law degree, James achieved success in a number of business ventures in Panama. Among these were buying, renovating, and selling single-family homes, investing in different types of real estate throughout Panama.
In 2017, James started a development company (Lataminvest co) undertaking a challenging agriculture project (Colorada Fresh Pineapples), raising money and successfully delivering 19% returns for his investors. He is currently running Colorada Fresh Pineapples (a 100 acre farm) successfully in Panama.
James´ latest endeavor is the development of a 20 acre ocean/beachfront, private gated estate lot community located on the Caribbean coast of Panama.
Juan Carlos
Chief Agricultural Engineer
Juan Carlos is an agricultural engineer with an orientation in plant protection in addition to being a horticultural and fruit technician. He earned his agriculture engineer degree at the University of Panama. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Manuel Maria Tejada College in Las Tablas Panama.
He began his career at Melo y Cía., S.A. (the largest agricultural supplier in Panama) as a technical promoter. His duties included the promotion and sale of agricultural products at the national level. Following this, he joined Rocasa Panama, S.A., an agro chemical supply company, as a sales representative. In this capacity he coordinated logistics in the management of sales and inventories of agrochemicals throughout Panama. After this he accepted a position at Agro Industries Golden West. S.A. as a production manager where he performed evaluation, implementation and development of strategies in the establishment and management of agricultural production projects.
Juan Carlos then moved on to a position of chief agricultural engineer at Verba Odrec, a pioneer in pineapple production, packing, and exporting in Panama. At Verba, he oversaw every aspect of commercial pineapple production from land preparation, planting, crop care, harvesting, packing and exporting. After his tenure at Verba, he accepted a position as production manager at Cabo Zarzo, S.A. one of the largest commercial pineapple growers and exporters in Panama. Again, at this position he oversaw all aspects of commercial pineapple production.
He currently serves as head of the agricultural production plant at Viveres Unidos, S.A. in nearby La Chorrera. This involves the supervision of the organic fertilizer production plant, sales coordination, supervision, and production of horticultural products. As chief agriculture engineer at Colorada Fresh Pineapples, Juan Carlos oversees all aspects pineapple production.
He began his career at Melo y Cía., S.A. (the largest agricultural supplier in Panama) as a technical promoter. His duties included the promotion and sale of agricultural products at the national level. Following this, he joined Rocasa Panama, S.A., an agro chemical supply company, as a sales representative. In this capacity he coordinated logistics in the management of sales and inventories of agrochemicals throughout Panama. After this he accepted a position at Agro Industries Golden West. S.A. as a production manager where he performed evaluation, implementation and development of strategies in the establishment and management of agricultural production projects.
Juan Carlos then moved on to a position of chief agricultural engineer at Verba Odrec, a pioneer in pineapple production, packing, and exporting in Panama. At Verba, he oversaw every aspect of commercial pineapple production from land preparation, planting, crop care, harvesting, packing and exporting. After his tenure at Verba, he accepted a position as production manager at Cabo Zarzo, S.A. one of the largest commercial pineapple growers and exporters in Panama. Again, at this position he oversaw all aspects of commercial pineapple production.
He currently serves as head of the agricultural production plant at Viveres Unidos, S.A. in nearby La Chorrera. This involves the supervision of the organic fertilizer production plant, sales coordination, supervision, and production of horticultural products. As chief agriculture engineer at Colorada Fresh Pineapples, Juan Carlos oversees all aspects pineapple production.
Donald J Ewert
Director of Sales & Marketing
Mr. Ewert’s experience in land acquisition, project development, and sales & marketing began in late 1994 in Southern California and transitioned to Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia beginning in early 2007. He began his career as a land broker at the land division of Grubb & Ellis Company in San Diego California and following this held positions at Whittlesy Doyle Land, Amcal Multi-Housing, and John Laing Homes as either a land broker/development advisor or land acquisition manager.
Since relocating to Central America in early 2007, Don has had key involvement with various types of land development projects in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia from acquisition to sales and marketing. Don’s experience in the land business makes him a key part of the Colorada Fresh Pineapples pineapple project in Panama.
Since relocating to Central America in early 2007, Don has had key involvement with various types of land development projects in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia from acquisition to sales and marketing. Don’s experience in the land business makes him a key part of the Colorada Fresh Pineapples pineapple project in Panama.
Francisco Poveda
Foreman
Francisco has 17 years’ experience in the pineapple production industry in Panama’s “pineapple country”. During this time he has worked as a foreman on farms such as Finca Agro, Campos de Pasa, Farmily Farms, and Verba Odrec.
Francisco is experienced in all aspects of commercial pineapple production from employee management, farm equipment operation, land preparation, seed stock harvest, planting, installation and maintenance of irrigation systems, trouble shooting, crop care treatments, and harvesting.
As foreman, Francisco is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the production activities on our Colorada Fresh Pineapples farm.
Francisco is experienced in all aspects of commercial pineapple production from employee management, farm equipment operation, land preparation, seed stock harvest, planting, installation and maintenance of irrigation systems, trouble shooting, crop care treatments, and harvesting.
As foreman, Francisco is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the production activities on our Colorada Fresh Pineapples farm.
Jorge Aldeano
Operations & Marketing Support
Jorge is fully bi-lingual and has lived in both the USA and Panama. As such, he is comfortable conducting business activities in both cultures and languages. He holds a license in business administration and accounting from the Interamerican University. His work experience ranges from sales and customer service in a variety of fields with companies based in both the USA and Panama.
More recently, Jorge has played a hands on role in land acquisition and land sales in Panama with the building and development community. In this role, he routinely worked with homebuilders, land developers along with arquitects and engineers. He brings multiple skills and talents to the management team at Colorada Fresh Pineapples.
More recently, Jorge has played a hands on role in land acquisition and land sales in Panama with the building and development community. In this role, he routinely worked with homebuilders, land developers along with arquitects and engineers. He brings multiple skills and talents to the management team at Colorada Fresh Pineapples.
Mark Grosskopf
Technical Services, Risk & Analytics
Mark brings a proven track record as an accomplished Manager of Technical Services and Project Controls, from developing work processes, project set-up / start-up to directly managing Project Controls on projects, across a broad array of major capital projects, executed under the full spectrum of commercial structures that brings perspective to managing risk and ensuring decision quality.
His responsibilities have included developing work processes, procedures and training, claims management and claims support as well as risk Management programs. In addition, he has extensive experience in project start-up and implementation through baseline, initial project planning, and project Controls team management during execution. Further, Mark has project “cold eyes” reviews and internal audits (including recommendations for corrective action) along with systems development hands on experience.
His client interface responsibilities have included development of Decision Support Packages (DSP) for client investment decisions to help ensure good capital stewardship. Additionally, knowledge and experience in accounting, subcontract administration, claims and progress measurement provide a comprehensive understanding of project management and control processes.
His responsibilities have included developing work processes, procedures and training, claims management and claims support as well as risk Management programs. In addition, he has extensive experience in project start-up and implementation through baseline, initial project planning, and project Controls team management during execution. Further, Mark has project “cold eyes” reviews and internal audits (including recommendations for corrective action) along with systems development hands on experience.
His client interface responsibilities have included development of Decision Support Packages (DSP) for client investment decisions to help ensure good capital stewardship. Additionally, knowledge and experience in accounting, subcontract administration, claims and progress measurement provide a comprehensive understanding of project management and control processes.