Water availability and costs have long been major challenges for the citrus industry, along with increases in cultural and labor costs.
Fowler, Calif.- based Bee Sweet Citrus Inc. has made multiple adjustments to help offset some of those costs. The company has worked to improve efficiencies and reduce some inputs by using water technology, according to Keith Watkins, vice president of farming at Bee Sweet. He said the company uses technology to match the delivery of water with crop demand.
“On the labor side, we’ve also changed work schedules to reduce overtime and monitor regulatory compliance,” Watkins said.
Amidst the ever-changing challenges to grow citrus, Bee Sweet recently refreshed its brand and packaging.
At the start of the season, Bee Sweet launched a new campaign with a new, modernized brand for all of its commodities. The company’s label was modernized to educate shoppers about the varieties in each package, said Monique Bienvenue, Bee Sweet’s director of communications.
“For the first time ever, all of our citrus varieties are being packaged in one cohesive look, and each bag and carton displays the characteristics of the variety that is being packaged,” Bienvenue said. “Our goal is to reintroduce the Bee Sweet label to retail buyers.”
