Charlie Eagle: Passion for Cooking, Passion For People and Passion for Sourcing Food
April 21, 2025 | 1 min to read
The Vice President of Southern Specialties Inc. reflects on a 45-year journey in the produce industry, starting with the cultivation of fresh herbs and expanding to specialty produce due to growing demand. His encounters with celebrity chefs during the rise of California cuisine fueled his passion for cooking and sourcing quality food. Based in Pompano Beach, FL, he sources produce from ten countries across the Americas, cherishing the unique connections and experiences offered by the industry.
Vice President, Business Development
Southern Specialties Inc.
I started in the produce industry growing fresh herbs in greenhouses and I quickly learned there was demand, for not only fresh herbs, but specialty produce.
I was introduced to a lot of chefs, both European and American, at a time when the celebrity chef movement, the California cuisine, was really starting to take over. My passion for cooking, my passion for people and my passion for sourcing food all came together and the produce industry turned out to be the ideal home for me.
So, for the past 45 years, I’ve been involved in one aspect or another of growing, sourcing, and distributing fresh produce, not only to foodservice customers, but retailers and club stores as well.
We’re located in Pompano Beach, FL, and we grow in the Americas. That means we source products from 10 different countries located in Central America, South and North America, including Mexico, the United States and Canada.
It’s been a great ride. I’ve met some of the best people you can imagine, and I keep on coming back. Our industry is one-of-a-kind.
3 of 33 article in Produce Business March 2025
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