Our STORY

Founded in 2014, by a group of students from Immokalee High School, Taste of Immokalee is a student-created and student-operated Benefit Corporation with a mission to provide students hands-on experience in all aspects of business, with a focus on social entrepreneurship and giving back to the community of Immokalee, Florida. Our vision is to create an innovative approach to business that educates and empowers youth with skills and knowledge needed to solve social and economic problems, and influence positive change in their communities and the world. Taste of Immokalee is a salsa and sauce company based out of Immokalee, Florida, a small town that is a major agricultural hub. Today, Taste of Immokalee has expanded beyond the borders of Immokalee to include students from all Collier County High Schools. All profits go back to charity.

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  • timeline
    2014

    After months of recipe development and tinkering, the students finally showcased their wares at the 2014 Naples Stone Crab Festival.

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    2015

    Wynn’s Market in Naples ordered immediately after an impressive business presentation by the student entrepreneurs.

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    2016

    The salsa, spice mixes and sauces created and sold by Immokalee High School students have reached the aisles of 18 Publix grocery stores in Collier County.

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    2019

    After proving successful in the Naples-Fort Myers area, 240 additional Florida Publix stores will feature Taste of Immokalee’s line of salsa and sauces in their Buy Local displays.

Our MISSION

Taste of Immokalee is a benefit corporation with a mission to provide students with hands-on experience in all aspects of business, with a focus on social entrepreneurship to give back to the community.

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Our SUCCESSES

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Our INTERNS

Dieulerne Deceus

Accounting Intern
University of Florida

Sasha Fernandez

Accounting Intern
Barron Collier HS

Anthony Sasa

Marketing Intern
Palmetto Ridge HS

Mikaela Ramirez

Marketing Intern
Immokalee HS

Devonte Dorvil

Sales Intern
Lorenzo Walker

Wydlynn Francois

Marketing/Sales Intern
Immokalee HS

Priscila Massiate

Marketing/Sales Intern
Immokalee HS

Christian Garcia

Operations Intern
Immokalee HS

Yasain Numa Jose

Marketing Intern
Palmetto Ridge HS

Alex Garcia

Operations Intern
Immokalee HS

Kendra Pierre

Accounting Intern
Palmetto Ridge HS

Angel Calmo

Sales/Graphic Design Intern
Immokalee HS

Joanne Simon

Human Resource Intern
Palmetto Ridge HS

Maria Sanon

Customer Service
Immokalee HS

Zadan Milfort

Operation
Palmetto Ridge HS

Our BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tim Cartwright

Partner, Fifth Avenue
Family Office

Kevin Carmichael

Partner, Wood, Buckel &
Carmichael, Attorneys at Law

Paul Evans

Instructor, FGCU Institute
for Entrepreneurship

Kathleen Maier

Former CEO, Kipp Industrial Steel Sales, Inc.
Co-Founder, Michigan Seamless Tube

John K. Paul, CPA

Owner, IFCO Consulting

Jaime Weinsinger

Director, Lipman Produce

Holly Parkes

Co-Owner, Neapolitan Home Watch,
Owner, Holly Parkes Consulting, Blue Zones
Project Southwest Florida Volunteer

Winston Justice

Investment Manager, Bernstein, Wells Fargo
Securities, Former NFL Player, Philadelphia
Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos

Elizabeth Martinez

Founder, Taste of Immokalee,
Human Resources Professional, Hope
Healthcare Services

Our STAFF

Marie Capita

Executive Director

Myra Jaimes

Sales Development Representative

Our BUSINESS MENTORS

John K. Paul (JP)

Finance

Paul Evans

Entrpreneurship

Kristi Grigsby

Marketing

Holly Parkes

Sales
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