New York-based importer William H. Kopke Jr. Inc. says its summer citrus has arrived from South Africa, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Columbia and Argentina.
The company will offer imported fruit to North American markets under its Sweetums citrus brand, which includes mandarins, navel oranges, minneolas, cara caras, grapefruits and lemons. This season’s imported limes will be available under the importer’s Mr. Squeeze brand, according to a news release.
“We are delighted that summer citrus has arrived and once again looks and tastes beautiful,” William Kopke said in the release “With the growth of our repack facility by 10,000 additional square feet, for a total of 35,000 square feet, we have the capacity to pack any type of citrus packaging. In addition to our large repack facility, we have full control of the logistics which allows us to pivot quickly and satisfy any customer need.”
Related news: USDA downgrades 2022-23 citrus estimates
Packaged under the Sweetums brand, consumers can easily recognize the smiling faces of citrus personified on the packaging. The Sweetums brand was introduced across the citrus line in 2022 and has continued to stand out in produce departments, the release said. Other fruit packed under the Sweetums brand include grapes, cherries, pears, kiwi, and berries.
“We have been selling under the Sweetums brand for many years and have received a great deal of positive feedback from the end consumer,” Kopke said. “After a year with the rebrand, we have established Sweetums as the premium fruit option, earning consumers’ trust through a consistent experience across all categories.”
