Latest News From Lemons

Limoneira Co. notes seasonally increased lemon pricing in results
Limoneira Co. notes seasonally increased lemon pricing in results

Santa Paula, Calif.-based Limoneira Co. reported financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended Oct. 31 that reflected improved lemon pricing compared with a year ago.

Fruit World ushers in California citrus season — and a sustainability milestone
Fruit World ushers in California citrus season — and a sustainability milestone

The company is celebrating the recent Equitable Food Initiative certification of its facility in Reedley, Calif., as its winter citrus program gets underway.

Seald Sweet presenting limited-edition packaging to help anti-cancer efforts
Seald Sweet presenting limited-edition packaging to help anti-cancer efforts

Seald Sweet/Greenyard USA will present limited-edition packaging for lemons at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show.

Merchandising inspiration: Level up those lemon sales
Merchandising inspiration: Level up those lemon sales

Starting with sunny displays, brighten the shopper’s basket with more lemons.

Sunkist touts summer citrus on TikTok
Sunkist touts summer citrus on TikTok

Sunkist Growers is using content on the social media platform, popular among millennial and Generation Z consumers, and its Sunkist Unlimited campaign to promote the in-season fruit as a versatile, affordable option.

Fresh Trends 2023: A look at lemons
Fresh Trends 2023: A look at lemons

The Packer's Fresh Trends 2023 survey showed 39% of consumers indicated fresh lemon purchases in the past year.

Limoneira Co. quarterly results show rise in total net revenue
Limoneira Co. quarterly results show rise in total net revenue

Santa Paula, Calif.-based Limoneira Co. has reported that total net revenue for the quarter ending April 30 was $48.1 million, up $46.8 million for the same quarter a year ago.

Growers give outlook on summer citrus deal
Growers give outlook on summer citrus deal

A quality crop is expected despite earlier weather woes, though sizing could be affected in some cases.

Apeel-coated Limoneira lemons will hit shelves soon
Apeel-coated Limoneira lemons will hit shelves soon

As Apeel's first fully integrated lemon supplier in the U.S., Limoneira will significantly expand availability of Apeel-protected lemons domestically and internationally.

Wonderful Citrus introduces new display bins for seedless lemons
Wonderful Citrus introduces new display bins for seedless lemons

Along with new display bins in its marketing efforts, the company has launched a digital campaign with culinary-led creative to generate brand affinity and emphasize the ease of cooking and baking with no seeds.

Lemon sizing to benefit from added rain, Sunkist says
Lemon sizing to benefit from added rain, Sunkist says

“Overall, the crops are moving along nicely, and due to the additional days of rain we experienced, we expect a larger size structure in the coming months,” says Christina Ward, senior director of global marketing.

Lemons
Lemons continue to gain in per capita consumption, with imports now playing a bigger role

Retail per capita availability of fresh lemons jumped from 3.3 pounds in 2011 to 4.7 pounds in 2020, a gain of 42% during that time, according to USDA statistics.

California grower reports strong availability of lemons for spring
California grower reports strong availability of lemons for spring

Bee Sweet Citrus says now is a great time for store-level marketing for the versatile citrus, whether marketed by itself or used as an cross-marketing tool for other items.

'I'll have lemon with that'
'I'll have lemon with that'

Whichever side of the lemon-water fence you reside, this wellness trend has merchandising and marketing opportunities for the popular yellow citrus.

Limoneira Co. announces jump in quarterly revenue
Limoneira Co. announces jump in quarterly revenue

The Santa Paula, Calif.-based Limoneira Co. has reported a big increase in operating income for the quarter ending July 31, tied to record avocado revenues and higher fresh lemon sales.

Limoneira adjusts its business model to 'asset lighter' approach
Limoneira adjusts its business model to 'asset lighter' approach

Santa Paula, Calif.-based Limoneira Co. reported an improving financial picture when announcing its financial results for the quarter ending April 30 and announced a shift to an “asset lighter” approach to growth.

Lemons
U.S. lemon/lime exports drop 15% in 2021

U.S. exports of lemons and limes have been trending lower in recent years, and 2021 saw a 15% decline in combined exports. 

Lemons
Lemon consumption increases slightly with rising imports

U.S. retail lemon per-capita availability increased from 2.3 pounds in 2000 to 2.5 pounds in 2019, and imports are taking a bigger slice of total lemon demand than just a few years ago.

Limoneira reports higher lemon sales, revenue gains in the first quarter
Limoneira reports higher lemon sales, revenue gains in the first quarter

Citing higher lemon sales, Santa Paula, Calif.-based Limoneira Co. reported a 3% growth in revenue in the fiscal quarter ending Jan. 31 compared with year-ago levels.

Wonderful Citrus promotes seedless lemons, limes
Wonderful Citrus promotes seedless lemons, limes

Wonderful Citrus has multiple sourcing options for both lemons and limes, company executives report. 

California citrus output expected to dip
California citrus output expected to dip

The severe drought is contributing to what could be a decline in output for California citrus in 2021-22, industry leaders say.

Limoneira Co. Announces Joint Venture with Wileman Bros. & Elliott Inc.
Limoneira Co. Announces Joint Venture with Wileman Bros. & Elliott Inc.

Limoneira Co. announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wileman Bros. & Elliott, Inc., to come together to sell their combined citrus volumes under the One World of Citrus Alliance.

California lemon grower raises alarm over Argentina imports
California lemon grower raises alarm over Argentina imports

California lemon grower Jim Finch is alarmed about the surge in Argentina lemon imports this year.

Behind the 8 ball (squash) on PMG
Behind the 8 ball (squash) on PMG

The first week of July brought a lot of shuffling of the top 20 produce items on Produce Market Guide, with some summertime specialties joining the ranks of standard favorites.

It's red, blue ... green and orange in the PMG top 20
It's red, blue ... green and orange in the PMG top 20

Although things weren't all red, white and blue on PMG in the week leading up to the July Fourth holiday, seasonal favorites still stacked the top 20.

Lemons
Argentina lemon output revised

Argentina's estimated lemon output for the marketing year 2020-21 has been increased 12% by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, but exports have been revised lower.

Sunkist expects strong consumer interest in citrus to continue
Sunkist expects strong consumer interest in citrus to continue

Citrus marketers have benefitted from great consumer interest during the COVID-19 pandemic and that isn’t likely to change anytime soon, Christina Ward thinks.

Trending on PMG ... loquat?
Trending on PMG ... loquat?

For the past couple of weeks a certain specialty has been topping the charts on PMG — namely, loquat!

Bee Sweet Citrus lemons available for promotions
Bee Sweet Citrus lemons available for promotions

As consumers begin to prepare for seasonal celebrations and backyard gatherings, Bee Sweet Citrus reports a strong supply of lemons to help meet continued demand for springtime promotions.

Salix Fruits kicks off the Argentine lemon season
Salix Fruits kicks off the Argentine lemon season

Philadelphia-based Salix Fruits has announced the start of the Argentine lemon season.

Sunkist sees lemon consumption surge
Sunkist sees lemon consumption surge

Lemons have seen a pandemic bounce and that surge has continued into 2021.

Older, richer consumers best consumers of lemons
Older, richer consumers best consumers of lemons

According to The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2021, 43% of surveyed consumers said they purchased fresh lemons in the past year.

Limoneira offers full scope of lemons and limes
Limoneira offers full scope of lemons and limes

It has been a good year at retail for lemons and limes, and Limoneira has been in prime position to fulfill demand.

Citrus stacks PMG top 5

Strawberries enjoyed a third week in a row at No. 1 on PMG, while pummelos bumped oranges down to take the No. 2 spot, landing oranges at No. 3.

U.S. fresh exports slip in 2020, USDA reports

The value of U.S. apple exports fell 11% in 2020, but government trade statistics show that orange exports increased in value by 8%.

Artichokes, apricots vault into PMG top 20

Strawberries retained the No. 1 spot on PMG the week of Feb. 1, but apples rose from No. 8 the previous week to take the No. 2 slot.

Strawberries take the cake — or No. 1 — on PMG

Pummelos were finally knocked from their weeks-long run at No. 1 when strawberries took the top spot on PMG the week of Jan. 25.

Amy Sowder
Top 4 kitchen gadgets for fresh produce

We haven’t had any opportunities to grab booth swag at in-person trade shows in almost a year, but there are a few produce gadgets I’ve held onto from shows in years past.

Despite pandemic, demand pushes Salix Fruits to record shipments
Despite pandemic, demand pushes Salix Fruits to record shipments

Salix Fruits shipped more than 40,000 pallets of fruit in 2020, a growth of 100%, with with increases in citrus and apples, the main products of Salix´s supply.

Garlic and grapes make a comeback in PMG top 20

Pummelos, oranges and strawberries maintained the top three spots on PMG the week of Jan. 11, but mandarins rose from No. 11 the previous week to No. 4, and cabbage, previously No. 12, moved up to the No. 5 spot.

‘Excellent’ quality ahead for California's citrus crops
‘Excellent’ quality ahead for California's citrus crops

Although USDA's NASS estimated that California’s navel orange crop will be about 42 million 80-pound boxes this season, some grower-shippers estimate that number might be a bit on the heavy side.

Ample supplies, increased interest set citrus up for a strong season
Ample supplies, increased interest set citrus up for a strong season

Consumers typically turn to citrus to load up on vitamin C during cold and flu season, but this year, suppliers hope they’ll stock up on even more grapefruit, oranges, mandarins and lemons to keep COVID-19 at bay.

Citrus rules PMG's top 20

Citrus surged in interest during the last few days of December, taking six of the top 20 spots.

Chipotle’s supplier award recognizes Limoneira for Food with Integrity

Limoneira, a long-time lemon supplier to Chipotle, has received the restaurant chain’s Food With Integrity Award.

Avocados take No. 1 on PMG

Avocados bounced from No. 7 the week of Nov. 30 to take the lead spot on PMG the week of Nov. 7.

Full Harvest supplies rescued lemons to Danone for yogurt

Full Harvest, the first business-to-business online marketplace for surplus and imperfect produce, co-announced with Danone North America the launch of Two Good ‘Good Save’ yogurt made rescued meyer lemons.

Citrus interest big on PMG

Organic pears maintained the top spot on PMG the week of Nov. 30, but citrus showed strong interest overall, taking six of the top 20 spots.

Progressive Produce expands organic heirloom navel program

Los Angeles-based grower/packer/shipper Progressive Produce will see an expanded organic Heirloom Navel orange program towards the end of the year and into the first quarter of 2021.

DiSilva Fruit, Morning Kiss Organic offer California citrus

DiSilva Fruit and Morning Kiss Organic are ready to deliver delicious, vitamin-packed organic and conventional citrus for the coming citrus season.

CPMA honors member of Parliament as 2020 Produce Champion

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association has chosen Alistair MacGregor, a member of Canada’s House of Commons, as its 2020 Produce Champion.