Sofia Acón, 36
President, Kapi Kapi Growers, Miami Beach, FL
June 9, 2025 | 3 min to read
SHORT BIO
Hometown: Originally Costa Rica, now Boston, MA
Hobbies: Painting, Traveling, Music, New languages
Family/Community: Married, Books for All project
Motto in life: Kindness leads, trust unites, and together we drive change.
Carrying forward 35 years of family experience growing pineapples and bananas for major brands, Acón created Kapi Kapi Growers to bring fresh, premium, and sustainably grown tropical fruit directly to customers year-round. As founder and president, she introduced a new tropical brand to the North American market. Over the last five years, she has led her company in achieving global distribution for the Kapi brand and presence across 50-plus customers, including retailers, processors, foodservice distributors, and wholesalers in the U.S. In 2024, the company added plantains and organic bananas to its product portfolio.
Acón’s ability to provide both hands-on and strategic guidance in the areas of business development, marketing, and supply chain has been instrumental in the company’s continued success. She began her career in the arts and design space, leading projects that blended consulting, branding and storytelling for both emerging and global brands. After earning her MBA, she became interested in building something new, and her vision led to the creation of Kapi, launched in 2020. Since then, she has played a pivotal role in evolving the business into a vertically integrated company, managing everything from sourcing and logistics to marketing and distribution.
Q: How did you begin working in the produce industry and why?
Ever since my family started in agribusiness over 35 years ago, I’ve grown up in the produce industry, and it’s always been a natural part of my world. Over the years, I’ve come to deeply appreciate not just the work, but the relationships and dedication behind it. I’ve come to value the complexity of the supply chain, the human connection behind it, and the impact fresh food has on people’s lives.
Q: What do you know now you wish you knew when you first started your career?
I’ve learned the most valuable ideas and breakthroughs have come from moments of uncertainty and challenge. Looking back, what felt overwhelming was actually a defining moment in our company’s growth.
Q: What is the one thing in your business that you are most passionate about?
It’s an exciting time to rethink how we grow and connect people to fresh produce. I’m passionate about questioning assumptions, designing better systems, and finding new ways to work.
Q: How has the industry changed during your tenure?
The industry has had to become more agile, with a growing recognition that collaboration and open communication are essential to maintaining consistency in today’s rapidly changing environment.
Q: What challenges and opportunities do you see for the future of the industry?
One of the biggest challenges the industry faces is increasing unpredictability — driven by climate volatility, shifting global logistics and geopolitical events. By leveraging technology and innovation, the industry can become more agile, enhance collaboration across the supply chain, and better respond to the growing demand for healthier, more transparent, and sustainable food choices.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?
What I value most in my career are the relationships I’ve built along the way. I feel truly fortunate and proud of the team I get the opportunity to work with. Everything we do is possible because of a collective effort and the trust of our industry partners.
NOMINEES
