Nature Life Fruit was founded by industry veterans in management and produce. Shortly after its formation the company exceeded market demands by being able to offer a production capacity of more than hundreds of tons per week to satisfy the high demand in different markets so all needs of our customers were met.
Nature Life Fruit primarily caters to foreign and overseas markets, including all of Europe, Poland and Northern America.
To service our markets worldwide, the company has access to a vast network of growers and packers in Latin America, Asia and African countries.
For avocados we primarily work with growers in the most fertile regions for avocados in the state of Michoacan. You may call it the avocado-capital of the world.
Depending on the season, we may work with other growers with similar offerings that are in season and offer good value.
For bananas we work with multiple producers in Latin American countries, especially Colombia, so the high demand and quality standards can be competitively met.
Her is our team:
Ruud Straat
Ruud is the Managing Director of Nature Life Fruit. He founded it in 2018.
Ruud is from the Netherlands. Ruud speaks Spanish fluently with our team in Mexico and our exporters, which is key to make sure we exceed the expectations of our customers.
Based in Europe, Ruud coordinates all activities that relate to the import of fruit and vegetables from all around the world to Europe. He makes sure that the imports meet all needs and regulatory requirements in the home markets of our importers.
Ruud opens up new markets for Nature Life Fruit . Ruud sets targets, distribution lines and negotiates pricing with importers.
Ruud is highly competitive and wishes to create a win-win for our exporters and importers.
His focus is always on the customer: While the company aims to grow, the the customer takes center stage to receive the highest quality fruit and vegetable there is on the market.
Ruud’s Curriculum:
Ruud Straat is a highly experienced international executive. He has lived and worked in the centers of business in the USA and Europe. He has consulted dozens of clients such as Microsoft and Lockheed Martin in the US and DFS, the German Air Navigation Center in Germany. He held senior management positions at Deloitte and CSC. Furthermore, he headed the professional services division of 200 consultants right in Silicon Valley. Ruud has almost 30 years of C-level business management in various capacities as investor, owner and advisory to businesses and investors.
Ruud founded Nature Life Fruit Plus to bring his wealth of knowledge to the benefit of Nature Life Fruit ‘s clients. His knowledge and experience anchors with proven track records:
- consulted to Fortune 500 companies and start-ups;
- built companies from scratch, with exponential growth
- dealt with venture capital for innovators and large scale real estate holdings
- managed €100’s of millions in real estate, technology and and other investments for innovative companies
- Ruud holds an MBA from top tiered University of Aachen, Germany (RWTH Aachen) and attended Stanford’s Executive Program
- Ruud speaks five languages fluently: English, Dutch, German, Spanish and French
Rafał Tomaszewski
Our Managing Director and Key Partner for worldwide Imports to Poland.
Rafal also heads up our Polish Import Agency. Poland offers vast market opportunities for our company.
Rafał Tomaszewski is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in various industries, including import and distribution, financial advising, and marketing management. His diverse background and extensive network make him an invaluable asset to our expanding business in Poland.
As the owner of a prominent import agency in Poland, Rafał has established strong relationships with the country’s largest supermarket chains, collectively representing more than 5,000 stores nationwide.
This strategic position allows him to play a crucial role in introducing and distributing products across Poland’s rapidly growing market of over 40 million consumers.
Rafał’s expertise in importing and distributing international products is particularly noteworthy.
He has successfully imported coffee and various fruits from abroad, demonstrating his ability to navigate the complexities of international trade and logistics.
His experience in handling perishable goods is especially valuable for our focus on importing fruits and vegetables from Latin America and Asia.
With Poland’s fast-growing economy and its position as a key member of the European Union, Rafał’s insights and connections are instrumental in our expansion strategy.
His understanding of the Polish market, combined with his import experience, positions him as a bridge between Latin American producers and the European consumer base.
Rafał’s background in financial advising and marketing management further enhances his capability to identify market opportunities and develop effective distribution strategies. His ability to adapt to different industries and roles showcases the versatility needed in the dynamic world of international trade.
As we continue to expand our footprint in Poland and the broader European market, Rafał Tomaszewski’s expertise, established relationships, and strategic vision make him an essential partner in our mission to bring the finest fruits and vegetables to European consumers.
Rodrigo Bernal
Meet our Managing Director, based in Puebla and Guadalajara, Mexico.
Rodrigo is the managing director, responsible for all Latin American operations. Like our merchandise, he is an A+. It shows.
His area covers one of the best grounds for growing the highest quality fruits and vegetables. It is also called the capital of the world for growing the best quality avocados in the world.
Rodrigo oversees the overall value chain for our fruit and vegetable business in Mexico.
Rodrigo is a native from Mexico City and has built a vast network of growers and packers of avocados, as well as other fruits and produce
His responsibility covers a vast array of activities, like the selection of the plantations for export, bidding, quality control, maintaining all lines of communication with the producers, delivery, and transportation. Rodrigo makes sure the highest quality leaves the country to arrive in A+++ condition at the port of entry for our customers.
Rodrigo truly is “our boots on the ground” in Mexico to make sure all of our Mexican activities run smoothly and can satisfy all demands and inquiries our foreign customers have.
By managing the “agricultural projects,” as he calls them, he can make available large quantities of fruit and vegetables of the highest quality to an international market in which demand soars as never before. For example, the recognition of the health benefits of avocados is very well known to a larger public nowadays.
Rodrigo has worked all his life in agriculture and has intimate knowledge of the requirements to grow an all natural product and make it available to an international market by adapting to its prerequisites for export, logistics, and sales.
Rodrigo makes sure all merchandise leaves Mexico according to the highest standards, and each shipment arrives with the highest quality of fruits and vegetables our customers praise us for.