Wonderful Citrus says it is celebrating 75 years as a full-service citrus company, delivering exceptional quality from growing and shipping to packing and marketing.
Originally founded in 1950 as Paramount Citrus, the company marketed and sold citrus for independent California citrus growers who were underserved by packing consolidators and brokers, according to a news release.
In 1981, Lynda and Stewart Resnick acquired Paramount Citrus, bringing their marketing prowess and financial acumen to the citrus industry. The acquisition paved the way for what is now one of the largest agricultural portfolios in the world, with The Wonderful Company establishing itself as a leader in branding and marketing of pistachios, almonds, pomegranates, mandarins and seedless lemons, the release said.
Additionally, Wonderful Citrus celebrating its Wonderful Halos mandarins and Wonderful Seedless Lemons.
“We are proud to celebrate a legacy built on deep expertise, boundless passion and an unwavering commitment to putting our people and partners first,” said Zak Laffite, president of Wonderful Citrus. “As we celebrate 75 years, Wonderful Citrus is excited to continue leading the citrus category forward through innovation, quality, marketing and sustainability — because no one knows and grows citrus like us.”
In celebration of this anniversary milestone, Wonderful Citrus says it is bringing back its original namesake brand, Paramount Citrus, as a primary label within its portfolio, representing its heritage as a citrus grower. Consumers can find the new Paramount Citrus label, including both packaged and stickered loose fruit, in produce departments across the country.
Wonderful Citrus also relaunched a newly revamped website focused on its expertise and capabilities, featuring an enhanced user experience and a dedicated online grower portal to streamline communication and support collaboration, the release said.
Wonderful Citrus says its leadership and success are built around three pillars:
- Cultivating people and partners — With hundreds of growing partners around the world, imports from seven countries and nearly 7,500 employees, Wonderful Citrus invests in its people and partners. It operates 10 packinghouse locations in various regions across the country, including its main operations in California, Texas, New Jersey and Mexico. As pioneers in produce marketing, Wonderful Citrus’ team of more than 200 in-store merchandisers — one of the largest in produce — work closely with retailers to leverage eye-catching branded packaging and high-graphic in-store POS displays in strategic locations throughout grocery stores to ensure continued growth and success. Similarly, Wonderful Citrus says it has expanded its impact in the foodservice sector by collaborating with key distributors to offer fresh, high-quality citrus that enhances menu offerings.
- Best-in-class brands and fruit — From seed to shelf and root to fruit, Wonderful Citrus says it offers comprehensive nursery services, expert farming guidance and state-of-the-art packing and juicing facilities, while delivering sales and merchandising capabilities. Wonderful Citrus cultivates and harvests over 74,000 acres of fresh citrus and ships it around the world each year to ensure a year-round supply. By adhering to strict taste and quality standards, Wonderful Citrus maintains optimal quality for its varieties at every point of the season. Additionally, leveraging the innovation and best practices from its success with Wonderful Halos and tapping into consumers’ growing preference for seedless varieties, Wonderful Seedless Lemons is poised to disrupt the produce category, the company says. These non-GMO Project Verified, 100% naturally seedless lemons are driving substantial gains for the lemon category, accounting for 100% of bagged lemon category growth for three consecutive years, the release said.
- Value beyond its products — Wonderful Citrus says the company is committed to protecting the environment through sustainable farming practices, not only for the future of its business but for many communities it’s a part of. Its acreage and scale allow Wonderful Citrus to be at the forefront of progressive agricultural techniques, helping to set the bar in quality control, water conservation efforts, specialized nurseries and integrated pest management systems, the company says. To strive for a healthier planet, Wonderful Citrus has taken measurable actions toward waste reduction, water stewardship and carbon emissions tracking. In fact, the company says 100% of Wonderful Citrus’ operations will be powered by renewable energy by the end of 2025. Additionally, Wonderful Citrus supports unique philanthropic efforts where its employees live and work. Wonderful Citrus’ parent company, The Wonderful Company, and its owners, the Resnicks, have invested more than $2.5 billion in philanthropy and corporate social responsibility initiatives globally, including $1.3 billion in environmental sustainability efforts to help fight climate change.
As Wonderful Citrus looks ahead, the company says it will focus on long-term growth and expansion, along with supply chain diversification. This will be achieved by continuing to strengthen relationships with growers and suppliers worldwide to ensure a premium-quality and reliable year-round supply, while also expanding into new international markets for exports, the release said. Wonderful Citrus is also investing in farming and cultivation activities to introduce and enhance the availability of high-demand varieties throughout the year.
