Tarrytown, N.Y.-based fresh fruit importer Jac. Vandenberg Inc. has announced that its Sunrays brand of grapes will now be available year-round starting March 8, thanks to the addition of California growers to its lineup.
The company already sources from Peru, Chile and Mexico, according to a news release.
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve heard from many of our retail partners the challenges of carrying a multitude of labels and varieties that constantly change week to week, month to month and season to season. The message was clear: retailers want a single, reliable, year-round grape brand on the shelves, and we are proud to offer Sunrays as a solution,” John Paap, brand marketing manager, said in the release.
Jac. Vandenberg started with the first Sunrays grapes from Peru in December and is now in the middle of the Chilean season.
The Sunrays brand is rooted in its social and environmental missions, shared with the tagline “Snack with Impact.”
For every package packed, money is donated to the international charity Save the Children, totaling about $235,000 to date, according to the release.
The brand is also involved in packaging solutions that reduce or eliminate single-use plastics. The Sunrays mandarins Bio bag-netting is made completely from tree fibers and is certified home compostable and biodegradable.
The Sunrays grape program from Mexico should begin mid-May and then transition to California mid-July. Most grapes packed will be proprietary varieties such as Sweet Globe, Pristine, Sweet Celebration, Jack’s Salute, Krissy and Allison.
