Grower cooperative Sunkist Growers says it has acquired a minority stake in Sienz, a global fruit and vegetable packinghouse technology company.
Sunkist Growers said with this strategic investment, Sienz assumed full responsibility for providing critical parts, service and ongoing support to its packinghouse equipment customers worldwide.
Sienz specializes in advanced optical sorting, grading and packing equipment designed to enhance efficiency and product quality. Sunkist Growers said it will also collaborate with Sienz to develop new technologies.
“This investment represents our commitment to innovation,” Lisa Park, chief financial officer at Sunkist Growers, said in a news release. “With Sienz, we are ensuring that our customers have access to best-in-class technology and service they’ve come to expect. Our aspirations do not end at the packinghouses but extend to the full value chain — seed to consumer. We need to collect the right data, leverage automation and apply AI where necessary to deliver the best results for our members, and Sienz can help Sunkist get there.”
Sunkist and Sienz said they will engage with customers to provide ongoing updates and support through this transition.
“We’re excited about this new chapter with Sunkist, and we are fully committed to ensuring our strategic alliance delivers exceptional value,” said Sebastian Martinez, chief executive officer of Sienz. “Our team will provide top-tier support to ensure all Sunkist customers are well taken care of with our advanced technology and service solutions.”
