Oranges

How Retail Collaboration and Supply Strategies Drive Citrus Marketing Success

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 20:33:42 GMT

With the U.S. in the middle of its winter citrus season, season, recent weather issues have complicated long-running labor, water and import pressure challenges on the supply side, but there’s a lot to celebrate and anticipate on the marketing side.

Citrus demand has been growing recently; most of the familiar citrus varieties rank in consumers’ top 10 most purchased fruits, and the vitamin-C-heavy citrus offerings are well positioned to meet consumers’ growing interest in healthy, nutrient-dense foods.

Marketing in this mature fruit segment has its challenges, but experts on both the supplier and retailer sides stress the importance of product differentiation, point-of-sale information and collaborative strategies to increase citrus demand.

Supply-side Challenges

You can’t market what you don’t have, so supply-side issues play into citrus marketing even if the consumer knows nothing about it.

Dave Rooke, senior vice president of sales for Wonderful Citrus, highlights supply chain volatility as an overarching challenge for the citrus industry, pointing to the ongoing issues of rising costs of
labor, water and inputs. However, part of the most immediate issues facing the winter citrus crop has been the weather.

“We’ve had significant weather challenges in the month of December with foggy weather in the valley for four weeks,” Rooke said Jan. 7.

Fog has contributed to low temperature differentials, with both highs and lows being in the 40s. This, combined with a lot of rain, has made it challenging, he says.

“Then you add rain to the fog, and it just makes it very, very difficult from a supply standpoint,” he adds.

But it’s not just weather that’s challenging the supply side. Vince Mazzetti, vice president of Blue Banner Citrus — a Riverside, Calif.-based grower-packer-shipper of California citrus — adds import pressure to the list of challenges facing his company, which deals heavily with grapefruit.

“We get a lot of pressure from imports from Mexico, Chile, Argentina, South Africa,” he explains of California grapefruit.

Increasing import pressure on domestic citrus producers is a growing issue . According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service’s Fruit and Tree Nuts Yearbook records on trade, in 2023 (the most recent complete data) imported grapefruit made up 11.4% of the domestic supply, with the largest volumes coming from South Africa. This was down from 16% in 2022 but up considerably from 2% to 5% that predominated from the early 2000s.

In general, imports are growing as a proportion of available citrus in the U.S. For example, in 2013, 9.35% of available fresh oranges in the U.S. were imported, while in 2023 the number was 17.96%. Similarly, imported lemons represented just under 9% of total lemon availability
in the U.S. in 2013, compared to 22.74% in 2023.

Cassie Howard, senior director of category management and marketing for Sunkist Growers Inc., highlights the growth of citrus imports as an interesting trend among consumers who voice strong support for local produce. She says the trend reinforces “that when shoppers find something they enjoy, they are looking to consume it all year-round.”

(Photo: siewwy84, Adobe Stock)

Consumers Love Citrus and Its Health Benefits

On the demand side, the citrus industry today has much to celebrate. Noting that the past two months have been a bit
chaotic due to recent weather issues, Rooke reports that last year was good with demand for citrus overall being up.

“The citrus industry as a whole was up between about 5% to 6%, which is positive,” he says, adding that citrus overall is “a health-first product,” something that is increasingly of interest to consumers.

Dennis Payne, director of merchandising produce and floral for Greensboro, N.C.-based grocery chain The Fresh Market, says health is front of mind for shoppers, especially early in the year when the domestic citrus season is in full swing.

“During this time, we consistently see an increase in demand driven by healthy eating goals and consumers seeking the nutritional benefits of citrus, particularly during the winter months and flu season,” Payne says.

According to The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2026 report, 55% of respondents said they are eating more fruit now compared to two years ago. Those respondents overwhelmingly reported health concerns and seeking more nutrients as the top reason, at 77%.

Additionally, most citrus varieties perform well with surveyed consumers. For example, oranges were the No. 6 most purchased fruit, with 77% of respondents reporting such a purchase in the past 12 months. Lemons came in at a close No. 7, with 76% of respondents saying they bought lemons. Limes were No. 9, with 66% of respondents indicating a purchase.

Rates of reported purchases dropped off with other varieties, with 61% of respondents reporting clementine or mandarin purchases in the past 12 months, for example. Grapefruit saw the lowest rate of reported citrus purchases at only 40%. Still, these reported purchase rates are higher than in past Fresh Trends surveys.

Every citrus category also showed higher rates of reported purchase among younger respondents (Gen Z and millennials) than with older consumers (Gen X, baby boomers and traditionalists) in the Fresh Trends 2026 report. For example, 85% of Gen Z respondents reported buying oranges, compared to only 66% of baby boomers. Similarly, 52% of millennials reported buying grapefruit, compared to only 25% of traditionalists.

Product Differentiation and Consumer Education are Key

While citrus remains popular among consumers, and especially younger consumers, marketing citrus is not without its challenges today. For instance, price can be a marketing problem for citrus in the current economic environment, according to Howard, but she is optimistic.

“What’s interesting is that even as many shoppers feel price-stressed, particularly younger consumers, they are still willing to trade up when the value proposition is clear,” she says.

“The opportunity lies in the fact that produce remains a strong value proposition overall, and citrus has a unique ability to deliver nutrition, versatility and familiarity at a price point consumers still trust. When brands and retailers clearly communicate quality, flavor and usage, citrus can win both trial and repeat purchases — even in a cautious-spending environment.”

Differentiation can also be a marketing issue. During citrus import season, generally summer through early fall for all citrus but limes, Payne says citrus faces stiff competition from stone fruit and apples.

“During this time, it’s critical for The Fresh Market to differentiate citrus by sourcing the best-quality fruit globally and clearly communicating that value to customers,” Payne says. “Strategic merchandising, compelling storytelling around origin and flavor, and targeted promotions can help citrus stand out and maintain consumer interest during highly competitive seasonal transitions.”

Consumer education on varieties is another key challenge that plays into differentiation, Rooke says.

“If a consumer doesn’t know that lemons can be seedless, then they don’t go and ask for them,” he offers as an example, referencing Wonderful Citrus’ seedless lemons. “So, it’s this idea of educating consumers to know what’s available and know what they should even begin to ask for.”

Rooke also gives the example of navel oranges versus mandarins as it relates to health messaging.

“Naval oranges have been around forever in the U.S. Mandarins haven’t been. So, how do we continue to educate consumers that mandarins can be every bit as healthy and packed with vitamin C as the navel orange that everyone grew up with eating?” he asks, adding that he’s often surprised navels are still being sold when compared to the convenience of mandarins.

“If you look at retail price per pound, the price per pound is actually not that different, and so it becomes, ‘what separates that from a consumer standpoint?’” he says.

Grapefruit

(Photo: akepong srichaichana, Adobe Stock)

Focus on Grapefruit Education

Mazzetti also highlights the need for consumer education, particularly when it comes to grapefruit.

“There’s a huge challenge with grapefruit, as it hasn’t really been promoted a lot the last 10, 15 years,” he says.

He says the lack of familiarity with grapefruit among younger consumers is a challenge, but one about which he is quite optimistic. He shares a personal anecdote about bringing grapefruit as part of a rotating class snack system at his oldest son’s elementary school a couple of years ago.

“And for about three weeks, I’d go pick up my kids at school … and I had all these parents coming to me asking, ‘Where do we get this grapefruit? Little Cindy, little Johnny, little Timmy, they all came home screaming that they had this grapefruit at school and they love it,’” Mazzetti recalls.

“If you can get kids to want it, our problems are solved,” he adds.

Rooke also reports that Wonderful
Citrus has also rebranded its Texas grapefruit program, historically known as Sweet Scarlets, in an effort to stand out and differentiate the product.

“We’ve renamed it Sweet Grapefruit, really to highlight the product offering and try to capture a consumer that maybe doesn’t historically interact with grapefruit,” he says.

Direct Consumer Engagement in Stores is a Winning Strategy

Blue Banner Citrus, which just recently parted from Sunkist, now finds itself in the exciting but challenging position of marketing its grapefruit how it wants. Mazzetti says the company is excited to do point-of-sale and direct-to-consumer marketing strategies, such as tastings in stores as an independent packer-shipper.

“At the right time of year, with the right box of grapefruit, we can really do some good promotion on California grapefruit,” Mazzetti says.

According to the Fresh Trends 2026 report, 34% of respondents said sampling would make them more likely to purchase a new produce item or more of a certain familiar item. This reporting rate was equal with “tried it at a restaurant” and just behind the most popular factor, “word of mouth,” at 39%.

Rooke also notes the value of POS information and accessories like bin bases. He says Wonderful has had success with having citrus items outside of the produce section along with special, smaller bins with interchangeable header cards. He gives the example of having these small hexagonal bins of the seedless lemons
in the seafood section, with the header card showing a piece of salmon, as having good results.

“We need to make sure that we continue to have multiple points of offering of the products to a consumer,” he says. “Sometimes it’s maybe not on their list, and we want to make sure that they’re reminded of it, and having those different points of differentiation is important.”

According to Fresh Trends 2026, respondents preferred produce information be close to or on the produce itself when they purchase it. A quarter of respondents listed in-store signage as the most important source for information about that produce, including origin, preparation and proper storage and recipe tips. Another quarter of respondents listed produce packaging as the most important.

Other options, which saw much lower importance ratings from respondents, were growers’ or retailers’ websites, social media and news outlets.

But strategies like tastings, special POS materials and distribution throughout the store take considerable effort and good relations with retailers. Speaking from The Fresh Market’s perspective, Payne notes the most effective of these efforts are built through direct collaboration with growers with customers in mind.

“When POS, tastings and cross-merchandising are thoughtfully executed, they enhance the shopping experience and help bring the citrus story to life,” he says, adding that since each retailer operates differently, a one-size-fits-all strategy is rarely effective.

“Citrus suppliers can make these efforts easier and more appealing by developing customized programs tailored to each retailer’s brand, customer base and operational capabilities. Flexibility, simplicity of execution and clear value to both store teams and shoppers go a long way in building strong, successful partnerships.”

Driving Demand for the Future

Partnerships and cross-industry collaboration are also needed when it comes to growing citrus demand overall, according to sources. Rooke says that starts with growers and suppliers putting the best-quality citrus in the market, day in and day out.

“When we look to put something that’s inferior from a quality standpoint, it doesn’t help any citrus grower, shipper or packer,” he says. “So, learning to have that discipline is one of the key things that citrus growers as a whole need to do broadly.”

Also citing quality concerns, in part, Mazzetti calls for greater protection of the domestic citrus industry.

“We should probably get some heavier tariffs on these offshore companies because it’s killing domestic farmers,” Mazzetti says. “You can get fruit from all these other countries, and maybe the quality is as good or not, but a lot of people buy it with their wallet, especially on an item that’s not a staple. Lemons might be a staple because of foodservice, but citrus in general is a luxury.”

Howard also stresses the value of the fruit itself and expands on what value can mean.

“To grow citrus consumption, the industry needs to make citrus easy, dependable and relevant in everyday routines,” she says. “A consistent eating experience is foundational, but convenience, pack formats and the use of inspiration are increasingly important.”

Howard, along with other sources, also emphasizes the importance of quality communication strategies to growing citrus demand. For example, while acknowledging citrus-growing states have their own state-level citrus groups, Mazzetti recommends the formation of a citrus
industrywide promotional board. Currently, Texas and Florida have federal marketing committees for their produce industry, but there is
no nationwide group .

“I think, collectively, someone’s got to lead this charge to promote U.S. citrus and the seasonality of it and the uniqueness of what we have,” he says.

Payne echoes the sentiment, if not in exact terms: “The citrus industry and retailers should collaborate on a comprehensive, multichannel marketing strategy designed to drive consumption. By aligning messaging across all media platforms and clearly communicating citrus health benefits, flavor profiles and usage occasions, we can strengthen consumer engagement, expand demand and maximize category growth.”

Howard voices optimism on the future for citrus, even in light of spending-cautious consumers.

“Looking ahead over the next five years, we believe citrus has a strong opportunity to grow alongside broader produce trends, especially as health, wellness and fresh food remain priorities for consumers,” she says. “The brands and categories that succeed will be those that build trust through quality, adapt to where consumers shop and evolve their messaging to stay relevant with the next generation of shoppers.”

DiSilva Fruit projects strong summer citrus imports

Fri, 23 May 2025 15:49:50 GMT

DiSilva Fruit says its 2025 summer import citrus program — from June through October — will showcase a broad selection of citrus offerings sourced from grower partners across the Southern Hemisphere. Highlights include navels from South Africa and Chile; mandarins from Peru, Uruguay, South Africa and Chile; and lemons from Argentina, Chile and Mexico, according to the company.

“Summer is an underrated time for citrus,” Alden Guptill of DiSilva Fruit said in a news release. “Our early insights from growers point to a high-quality crop with excellent sizing, vibrant flavor and strong volumes. This creates outstanding opportunities for retailers to feature citrus in their summer promotions, helping shoppers discover that citrus is much more than a wintertime favorite — it’s a delicious, refreshing and hydrating snack that fits perfectly into summer lifestyles.”

DiSilva Fruit says citrus represents good value for consumers, combining nutrition with a low price during a time when food costs are top of mind. The company highlights the nutritional value of citrus, saying citrus fruits are loaded with essential nutrients, including vitamin C, antioxidants and dietary fiber.

“We’re seeing more consumers look for functional foods that not only taste great but also provide added health benefits,” Guptill said. “Citrus ticks all the boxes — it’s flavorful, refreshing, nutrient-dense and budget-friendly. It’s an easy choice for families looking to elevate their summer snacking and meals.”

DiSilva Fruit also said it will offer the imported citrus in a range of pack sizes to meet consumers varied needs, including 3-pound and 4-pound bags as well as standard citrus cartons for bulk displays and merchandising flexibility. Lemons will also be available in 5-, 2- and 1-pound consumer packs to meet consumer needs, the company added.

DiSilva Fruit encourages retailers to take advantage of this year’s strong supply and build engaging citrus displays throughout the store — especially in key summer moments like Fourth of July, back-to-school time, and Labor Day. Cross-merchandising opportunities with summer recipes, beverages and wellness themes can further drive sales and inspire consumers to add more citrus to their carts, the company says.

Salix Fruits offers insights with launch of its summer citrus program

Thu, 15 May 2025 20:58:54 GMT

Global importer-exporter Salix Fruits kicked off its 2025 summer citrus program May 15. This marked the beginning of the Southern Hemisphere’s citrus season, according to the company, and the launch featured products such as lemons, mandarins, oranges and grapefruits.

Salix Fruits CEO Alejandro Moralejo said this season is significant for the company as citrus remains one of its core product categories.

“After a challenging 2024, 2025 presents new dynamics in the global citrus market. As different regions complete their seasons, Northern Hemisphere producers set expectations for exporters and traders in the Southern Hemisphere,” Moralejo said in a news release.

Salix Fruits highlighted several factors shaping this year’s citrus trade landscape. For example, Europe is experiencing lower volumes due to spring frosts in Turkey, impacting the export of lemons, mandarins, oranges and fine fruit, which may also affect the start of the 2025-26 season. Additionally, Spain’s decreased production of verna lemons, the early conclusion of Moroccan mandarin shipments and strong demand for Egyptian oranges indicate that Europe and Russia will be promising markets for exports from South Africa, Argentina, Peru and Chile.

Meanwhile, U.S. citrus production has been significantly high across most varieties, particularly lemons, reducing immediate interest in imports from the Southern Hemisphere, according to Salix Fruits. On the supply side, Argentina and Chile have recovered their lemon production, while Chile reports strong mandarin volumes but lower orange yields. Peru is set to increase its mandarin output, while South Africa anticipates an average production year.

“These production fluctuations create supply and demand opportunities, and this is where Salix Fruits’ global sourcing and sales network becomes a critical advantage for our clients,” Moralejo said, noting that the company has offices in the U.S., Egypt, South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Spain, India and across Asia.

“The U.S. remains a priority market for us, with consistent citrus demand,” Moralejo added. “Our global presence allows us to tailor supply according to regional needs.”

One of the main challenges for 2025 is uncertainty surrounding new U.S. tariff policies, which have delayed sales program closures and created complexities in international trade negotiations, the company said.

Sunkist revamps merchandising program for valencia oranges with exclusive back-to-school giveaways

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 22:40:56 GMT

Sunkist says it has new merchandising tips to help retailers sell larger value packs of valencia oranges and build impactful summer displays.

Sunkist is also unveiling an back-to-school giveaway, offering families a chance to win a Sunkist-themed prize package as they prepare for the new school year, according to a news release.

Circana data shows that citrus is an integral part of consumers’ shopping baskets throughout the summer, and consumers prefer to make in-store produce purchases, especially oranges. Building effective displays that put the Sunkist brand at the epicenter of the customer shopping journey is an effective solution for retailers to drive the category throughout the valencia season, according to the release.

“Valencia oranges are off to a good start this season, with volume up nearly 35% in June compared to the same time last year, according to Circana,” Cassie Howard, senior director of category management and marketing at Sunkist Growers Inc., said in the release. “Valencia oranges are a summer favorite and perfect for juicing – this program will enhance their visibility and appeal in the marketplace.”

According to a Sunkist-commissioned study, over 15% of orange shoppers report buying oranges as an impulse purchase, further stressing the importance of adding engaging and interactive displays at the store level. Sunkist says its new ready-to-wrap merchandising offerings include bilingual Latin-inspired pallet bin wraps and a back-to-school-themed pallet bin wrap as consumers prepare for back-to-school shopping as early as July.

“Back-to-school season is an important time for families, and we want to make it as enjoyable and stress-free as possible,” Howard said. “This giveaway is a way to give back to our loyal customers and help them better prepare for a successful school year with new ways to instill healthy habits into their kids’ lunchboxes.”

The Sunkist Back-to-School Sweepstakes runs July 8 through Sept. 14, where consumers can enter for a chance to win back-to-school prizes — an excellent way for retailers to engage with their shoppers this summer, Sunkist says. Additionally, QR codes on the new bin wrap designs lead directly to the sweepstakes webpage where consumers can learn more about the contest.

Valencia oranges are available now through October and are uniquely the only California-grown orange variety available in-stores during the summer among a variety of imported fruit options, the release said.

Growers give outlook on summer citrus deal

Thu, 11 May 2023 16:10:22 GMT

Good-quality late navel oranges, valencias, lemons and grapefruit will be available from California this summer, said Casey Creamer, president and CEO of Exeter-based California Citrus Mutual .

The navel orange harvest will wrap up in mid-June, when imports start arriving, he said. But supplies likely will be available for some time after picking stops.

“We haven’t had any quality issues,” Creamer said, despite cold temperatures and heavy rainfall during much of the winter and early springtime.

The biggest issue was sizing.

“Three years of drought, low water allocations and extreme heat early in the fall really impacted the growth” he said.

But growers welcomed the rainfall.

“With the amount of rain that we had, the trees are really starting to come alive,” Creamer said. “They look really healthy.”

California’s navel orange volume should be close to the industry’s early estimate: between 66 million and 70 million 40-pound cartons. That figure was up from the 60 million cartons produced in 2022 but lower than the USDA’s projection of 76 million cartons.

Fowler, Calif.-based Bee Sweet Citrus will offer customers navel oranges, lemons, meyer lemons, mandarins, blood oranges, star ruby grapefruit and valencia oranges during the late spring and summer months, said Keith Watkins, vice president of farming. Fruit this summer will have excellent flavor, he said, but size will be below average.

Picking is now underway and will continue through summer. Bee Sweet’s volume this summer should be greater than last year, Watkins said.

Santa Paula, Calif.-based Limoneira now is harvesting lemons out of the coastal district, said John Carter, vice president of citrus.

The large amount of rain California experienced this year “brought blessings and trials,” he said. “That much rain that fast has helped the fruit grow very quickly and large.”

In early May, he said sizing was large out of the state’s San Joaquin Valley, with less small fruit than usual.

“Overall grade for [the San Joaquin Valley district] is down versus historical,” he said. “As we finish up there, we should see more normal size curves out of [the coastal district].”

Limoneira harvests almost year-round in the coastal district. He said volume should be about the same or a little less than usual this summer.

Valencia, Calif.-based Sunkist Growers Inc. offers nearly 40 varieties of conventional and organic citrus, said Trent Bishop, vice president of sales and marketing.

As the weather warms up, the company will ship Sunkist lemons, California Star Ruby grapefruit and valencia oranges, the only U.S.-grown summer oranges.

While growers welcomed the ample rainfall the state received during the winter and early spring, the precipitation also brought challenges, he said.

Still, the size structure is “decent-looking,” Bishop said, and the fruit condition remains strong.

“Overall, our summer crops are in good condition, and we have the supply to meet the needs of our customers,” he said.

A large part of California’s citrus doesn’t stay in the U.S., said Creamer of Citrus Mutual.

“Export markets are an important part of the industry,” he said.

About 30% goes to destinations such as Canada, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand and Australia.

Although exports markets opened up this year after some trade issues were resolved with China and COVID-19 challenges wound down, rain delays and inflation created new challenges, he said.

Grower-shippers were hopeful for better export conditions in the future.

Related news: U.S. citrus global leadership is sliding, Farm Bureau warns

Limoneira plans to promote its summer citrus by featuring colorful characters on bags of lemons, limes, oranges and mandarins with a theme of “Catch the Citrus Wave!”

An easy-to-scan QR code will take consumers to a landing page with a variety of recipes, games, coloring activities and sustainable farming initiatives, Susan Jones-Ng, director of global sales and citrus marketing, said in a news release.

The company also is hosting a summer social media sweepstakes from May to August.

And in addition to its conventional citrus program, Sunkist has a strong organic deal, Bishop said.

The company’s organic portfolio includes navel, blood, cara cara and valencia oranges, lemons, California Star Ruby grapefruit and mandarins.

“Our goal is to provide a consistent, year-round supply of almost every variety of organic citrus fruit to retailers nationwide,” he said.

Organic produce has faced particular challenges this year, since organics is the market segment most affected by economic fluctuations and consumers’ efforts to reduce expenses, he said.

“Despite these challenges, we expect to be competitive in the organic space,” Bishop said.

Sunkist recently named Christine Toy as director of organics business development.

California isn’t the only state that will have a citrus program this summer.

In Florida, Fort Pierce-based DLF International had a smaller crop of grapefruit and valencia oranges than usual this spring as a result of two hurricanes and a freeze, said Jordan Feek, marketing director.

Sizing is smaller than usual, but quality has been good, she said. Picking wound down the second week of May, but the company will ship out of cold storage through June.

Sunkist touts summer citrus on TikTok

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 15:50:29 GMT

As inflation drives a cultural shift in grocery priorities, Sunkist Growers says it is helping price-conscious consumers, especially millennials and Generation Z, make healthier choices without compromising taste or budget.

And to promote the versatility and flavor of its summer citrus varieties to this segment of shoppers, the farmer-owned marketing cooperative is making moves on one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, TikTok.

Sunkist understands the importance of providing consumers with accessible and nutritious options, Trent Bishop, vice president of sales and marketing, said in a news release.

“That’s why we are committed to offering citrus options that are both versatile and affordable, allowing consumers to reclaim their health without sacrificing flavor or breaking the bank,” he said. “As we focus on striking the right balance between embracing the vibrant energy of summer and educating consumers about new and exciting ways to utilize the whole fruit, we are helping shoppers make their citrus purchases even more worthwhile.”

Sunkist says its summer citrus varieties – valencia oranges, lemons and grapefruit – offer delicious flavors and vital nutrients that enhance overall well-being.

“Our goal this summer is to get inflation-pinched shoppers to make citrus an essential item at checkout,” Bishop said. “Through our impactful marketing programs and interactive in-store tools, we can collaborate with our retail partners to engage with shoppers in real-time and help drive sales.”

Taking to TikTok

With most shoppers planning fruit purchases before entering the store, Sunkist continues to engage shoppers where they are, and right now that’s TikTok, a platform where millennial and Gen Z consumers are spending increasing amounts of time and where culinary inspiration and discovery thrive, according to the release.

The Sunkist Unlimited campaign highlights the versatility and flavor of current in-season varieties, tapping into viral recipes and collaborations with foodie influencers who shared their best citrus-inspired tips, tricks and hacks, the co-op said. Consumers can easily substitute in-season valencia oranges, also known as the “summer orange,” in any trending recipe, as these oranges are perfect for juicing and are available now through October, according to the release.

“Citrus is an important part of the consumers’ shopping basket throughout the summer,” Sunkist Director of Category and Consumer Insights Cassie Howard said in the release. “Citrus is top-of-mind from July through October, according to Circana, where citrus represents 10% of total fruit dollars sold at retail across the U.S.”

Through a series of duets and stitches (combining their videos with others), Sunkist TikTok creators concocted mouth-watering dishes that share innovative ways to bring in-season Sunkist citrus to the table, according to the release.

Whether through trending recipes such as the potato and courgette fritter or the lemony Senegalese-inspired cottage cheese toast or sharing helpful hacks including lemon ice cubes and orange sugar rims, Sunkist says it has demonstrated many ways for today’s consumers to get creative in the kitchen and step up cocktails, baking, recipes and even ways to clean a stubborn microwave.

Showcasing citrus

The co-op said it often refer to its lemons as “culinary superstars” because of the fruit’s diverse range across recipes, serving as a flavor booster, and even as a simple alternative for salt without sacrificing flavor.

Howard said summer is peak season for lemon purchases.

“Circana shows that in the last 13 weeks through June, 5-pound lemon bags increased over 5% versus last year and 20% compared to two seasons ago,” Howard said. “With lemons often planned purchases for consumers as they are versatile and indispensable in the kitchen, it’s important for retailers to provide flexible packaging options to help meet consumers’ needs.”

Rounding out available in-season summer citrus varietals are California star ruby grapefruits.

“We have learned a lot about the grapefruit shopper over the years, and according to a Sunkist-commissioned study, new shoppers are important to the category, representing nearly [one-third] of all grapefruit households, and are predominantly millennials and Gen Zers,” Howard said. “With today’s evolving shoppers relying on the produce department for real-time information, in-store display contests are a great way to capture your consumer’s interest. Be sure to contact your local Sunkist sales rep to learn more.”

An interactive Sunkist Unlimited website was launched to highlight the potential of Sunkist’s in-season citrus, making recipe discovery easier. The website hosts trending TikTok tutorials and incorporates a surprise generator to inspire visitors to use citrus in fun and unexpected ways to “Celebrate Every Bite” throughout the summer, according to the release.

The website’s search filters have been expanded to allow more personalized search results, such as selecting by key ingredients, dietary requirements or prep time, the release said. In addition, Sunkist says it has upgraded the “Where-to-Buy” platform on Sunkist.com so consumers can easily search what stores are carrying in-season, summer citrus varieties.

Related: @SunkistCitrus on TikTok

10 ways to use 10 pounds of Sunkist oranges

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 15:59:30 GMT

To help consumers make the most of its festively packaged 10-pound carton of navel oranges this holiday season, Sunkist is offering 10 recipes and tips for making fruit purchases go further.

“There is a sense of nostalgia during the holidays as shoppers reflect on the shared tradition of receiving oranges in their stockings growing up,” Cassie Howard, senior director of category management and marketing at Valencia, Calif.-based Sunkist Growers Inc., said in the release. “Oranges during the holidays have been a special treat for centuries, and we’re excited to keep citrus-themed traditions alive with our 10-pound navel carton program.”

As inflation continues to affect grocery priorities, Sunkist says it is committed to helping price-conscious shoppers continue making healthier snack-and-meal alternatives without compromising taste or budget this holiday season.

Sunkist’s 10-pound holiday cartons are available in both ribbon crate and gift box designs and are easily stackable for retailers to create eye-catching citrus destinations in the produce aisle to drive the category and capitalize on the holiday shopping rush, according to a news release.

A recent Sunkist-commissioned study found that 45% of consumers have gifted or received citrus from loved ones during the holiday season, Howard said. “While over half of consumers know that navel oranges are a traditional stocking stuffer, when speaking with consumers about their need for citrus this season, almost 70% reflected that recipe inspiration would increase citrus integration into holiday meals.”

To help consumers who are looking for stress-free holiday hosting tips or exciting new ways to make their fruit purchases go a little further this holiday season, Sunkist offers the following tips:

Be the host with the freshest and most festive seasonal dips with Cranberry, Orange, Walnut and goat Cheese dip .
Smell the season with Potpourri Simmer Pot .
Bring the wow factor to a holiday party with Orange Croissant Bread Pudding .
Toast to citrus season with Mulled Orange Spice Apple Cider .
Deck the halls with dried citrus by adding some aroma to any room in the house.
Get a gathering off to a sweet start with Orange and Onion Chutney , a sweet and salty combo.
Don’t let any of the fruit go to waste with Chocolate Dipped Candied Orange Peels , a sweet treat that gives every last peel a purpose.
Give a meal its main character moment with Navel Orange Maple Roasted Turkey Breast , a citrus centerpiece.
Looking for a family fun DIY? All you need are navel oranges, ribbon, and cloves to have some spice that’s nice with Clove-Studded Orange Ornaments .
Pass on the potential to that special someone by gifting the 10-pound carton in its entirety, “ a true a la cart from the heart .”

Heirloom navels available at Bee Sweet Citrus

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 20:21:54 GMT

Heirloom navels are back at Bee Sweet Citrus , further expanding the company’s portfolio of winter citrus varieties.

“Bee Sweet’s Heirloom Navels are a testament to the hard work our growers have poured into cultivating high quality citrus,” Randy Stucky, director of harvesting and grower relations of Bee Sweet Citrus, said in a news release. “They definitely set the bar for excellence due to their high brix levels and sweet flavor.”

Heirloom navels are a selection of California’s oldest and most established navel varieties and are typically grown on blocks of well-aged trees. The fruit from these blocks have above- average Brix levels and are only harvested once they’ve reached peak maturity.

“Every time shoppers purchase Bee Sweet’s Heirloom Navels, they can be sure that they are getting exceptional fruit,” Monique Mueller, director of communications forBee Sweet Citrus, said in the release. “The work of our farm and production teams, coupled with the technology of our Brix machines, guarantees customers high quality fruit every time they turn to our brand.”

Bee Sweet’s heirloom navels are packaged in high-graphic cartons and matching 3- and 4-pound bags. The company also has navel oranges, mandarins, lemons, meyer lemons, pummelos, grapefruit, cara cara oranges, royal red oranges and minneola tangelos as part of its diverse citrus line.

USDA’s March orange production estimate up slightly from February forecast

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 21:04:50 GMT

The USDA’s March all-orange forecast for the 2022-23 season is 2.62 million tons, up slightly from the previous forecast but down 25% from the 2021-22 final utilization.

The Florida all-orange forecast, at 16.1 million boxes (725,000 tons), is up 1% from the previous forecast but down 61% from last season’s final utilization, the USDA said.

In Florida, early, midseason, and navel varieties are forecast at 6.1 million boxes (275,000 tons), up 2% from the previous forecast but down 67% from last season’s final utilization. The Florida valencia orange forecast, at 10 million boxes (450,000 tons), is unchanged from the previous forecast but down 56% from last season’s final utilization.

The California valencia orange forecast is 8.1 million boxes (324,000 tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but down 6% from the previous season, the USDA said.

The California all-orange forecast of 46.1 million boxes (1.84 million tons) is unchanged from the previous forecast but up 14% from last season’s final utilization.

Fruit World ushers in California citrus season — and a sustainability milestone

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 12:59:43 GMT

As it welcomes the California winter citrus season, Fruit World is also touting a recent Equitable Food Initiative certification for its facility in Reedley, Calif.

The sustainability -focused fresh produce company called the certification a “testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved,” according to a news release.

“This certification marks a monumental accomplishment. We take our mission of creating an equitable and sustainable food system to heart, and this achievement demonstrates that our actions match our words,” Fruit World founder and CEO Bianca Kaprielian said in the release.

The California citrus season starts two to three weeks later than usual, the release said. While citrus volume is down across the board this year, Fruit World says it is working harder than ever to make every piece count. The company says the increased organic citrus acreage coming into play this season further emphasizes its “commitment to the long haul,” according to the release.

“We can’t help but get excited when the California winter citrus season rolls around. We love so much about it — the beautiful pops of orange color, the sweet juiciness, and the real range in varieties and flavor,” Kaprielian said.

Related: Corrugated cardboard packaging industry makes sustainability strides, says report

The season commences with the organic lemon program, a year-round favorite featuring fresh fruit from the desert region, according to the release. That’s being accompanied by sweet limes, with grapefruit to follow by month’s end.

November will mark the arrival of navels and mandarins, with minneolas, cara cara, and blood oranges all shipping in December, the release said.

Given the expected shorter season, Kaprielian encourages customers to plan ahead for their winter and early spring promotions, as the citrus program is likely to wrap up by the beginning of April, according to the release. To place an order or to learn more about Fruit World’s winter citrus program, visit fruitworld.com or contact sales@fruitworld.com.

CEO to speak at Organic Grower Summit

During the Organic Grower Summit in November, Kaprielian will join a panel of industry experts to discuss the USDA’s upcoming Strengthening Organic Enforcement final rule and how the grower community can prepare for its changes, according to the release.

“The updates to the USDA National Organic Program regulations are significant. The intent to minimize organic fraud is appreciated; at the same time, we see the challenges it will present to growers, buyers, and sellers of organic produce,” Kaprielian said. “We are working to make sure we are well positioned to be in compliance once the new regulations go into effect in March, which is the tail end of our winter citrus season. Our hope is that we can help other farmers navigate these changes, too.”

What about the orange consumer?

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:25:47 GMT

While we’re all produce operators in some capacity, we are all consumers, or potential consumers, of the products we sell. So, the question of the day is this: When was the last time you tried a navel orange? I suspect, for most of us in the industry, the answer will be some time in the not-too-distant past.

But for nearly half of the general grocery-shopping public, the answer is sometime in the last three months, according to recent Execulytics consumer research. That level of popularity places oranges as a top five fruit for household penetration, rubbing elbows with the likes of apples, bananas, strawberries and grapes.

Putting our produce hat back on, it becomes apparent that oranges command a high level of care in the produce departments across North America.

(Farm Journal)

Now what?

In the consumer research game, learning that oranges have a high household penetration is referred to as “The what?” Going one step further, the conclusion that oranges command a high level of care is the “So what?” But answering these questions does us little good unless we can also answer, “Now what?”

And for that answer, we need to know what “a high level of care” means to an orange consumer if we want our retail location to be the first choice for that valuable customer. I have a sneaking suspicion that most people will purchase a whole lot of other stuff wherever they choose to purchase their oranges.

Price or quality

To get to “Now what?” it is important to understand what makes an orange consumer tick: Are they more concerned about price or quality?

This is where the orange consumer throws us a curveball. Those who purchased oranges in the last three months are 26% more likely to be influenced by quality than the non-orange crowd and 21% more likely to be influenced by price, according to Execulytics consumer research.

Sounds simple. Also, orange consumers are 74% more likely to be influenced by concerns of seasonality. As a top-five fruit, shopkeepers should take great care when creating an orange offer. Great care can be defined as a high-quality, low-priced, in-season orange.

Great, how do we execute on this intelligence?

Fancy, but smaller

In North America, in-season oranges are generally available in the winter and spring seasons, and grown domestically in the U.S. If consumers are demanding U.S.-grown, high-quality oranges, then a “high level of care” could simply be to give the customers exactly what they are demanding.

Learn more: Oranges, the commodity

Try asking a supplier for a grade of orange that is fancier than fancy. It is likely that the best of the best is set aside and sold as a premium grade. But premium grades sell for premium prices, so, to satisfy the price-conscious part of the orange customer’s psyche, instead of carrying a 48- or 56-count navel orange, try sizing down to a 72-count.

The last four editions of the Produce Almanac show 72-count navel oranges to be less expensive than either of the two larger sizes. That’s top quality, at a competitive price — just like the orange consumer told us.

The orange consumer

But just who is this orange customer demanding such things?

It’s probably better to view this discerning customer as half the population — the half who buys oranges. And we should consider ourselves lucky that this half of the population is telling us the keys to their grocery wallet (at least when it comes to fruit and veg).

I wonder what customers of the other top-five fruits would tell us. We’ll have to leave that for another day.

____________________

Mike Mauti is managing partner of Execulytics Consulting, with 25 years in the produce business focusing on retail and consumers.

Marketscope — Fruit f.o.b.s as of June 1

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:37:40 GMT

Apples

YAKIMA VALLEY AND WENATCHEE DISTRICT WASHINGTON 2019 CROP — Shipments (1,146-1,149-992, Includes exports 261-265-269) — Movement expected about the same. Trading Active. Prices Generally Unchanged. Washington Extra Fancy Carton tray pack Red Delicious 72-88s mostly 14.00-16.00, 100-113s mostly 13.00-15.00; Golden Delicious fine appearance 72s mostly 25.00-28.00, 80s mostly 24.00-26.00, 88s mostly 22.00-26.00, 100s mostly 18.00-22.00; Fuji 64-88s mostly 18.00-20.00, 100s mostly 16.00-18.00, 113s mostly 14.00-17.00; Granny Smith 64s mostly 18.00-20.00, 72-80s mostly 18.00-22.00, 88s 18.00-20.00, 100s mostly 17.00-19.00, 113-125s mostly 16.00-18.00; Gala 64-72s mostly 23.00-24.00, 80s 21.00-24.00, 88s mostly 19.00-20.00, 100s mostly 16.00-17.00, 113s mostly 14.00-16.00, 125s mostly 14.00-15.00; Honeycrisp 56s mostly 28.00-34.90, 64s mostly 32.00-38.90, 72-80s 34.00-40.90, 88s mostly 32.00-38.90, 100s mostly 30.00-36.90. Cartons 12 3-pound film bags Red Delicious Washington Extra Fancy 2 1/2” minimum mostly 15.95-17.95; Golden Delicious and Fuji 2 1/2” minimum mostly 16.95-18.95; Gala and Granny Smith 1/2” minimum mostly 18.95-20.95; Honeycrisp 2 1/2” minimum mostly 30.95-34.95. ORGANIC cartons tray pack Gala Washington Extra Fancy 64s mostly 22.00-26.00, 72-80s mostly 20.00-26.00, 88s mostly 18.00-24.00, 100s mostly 18.00-20.00; cartons 12 3-pound film bags Gala 2 1/2” minimum mostly 16.95-20.95.

CHILE IMPORTS — PORT OF ENTRY PHILADELPHIA AREA 2020 CROP — Imports via Boat (45-40-67) — Movement expected about the same. Trading Moderate. 18 kg cartons tray pack Gala Marked Extra Fancy 70s-80s 26.00-28.00, 90s 24.00-26.00, 100s 20,00-22.00. FIRST REPORT.

NEW YORK 2019 CROP — Shipments (55-57-46) — Movement expected to seasonally decrease. Trading Moderate. Prices Generally Unchanged. Fuji Cartons Tray Pack U.S. Extra Fancy 80s-88s mostly 26.00-27.00; McIntosh Cartons Tray Pack U.S. Extra Fancy 80s-88s mostly 27.00-28.00. Cartons 12 3-pound Film Bags Red Delicious U.S. Extra Fancy mostly 16.00-19.00; Fuji U.S. Extra Fancy mostly 20.00-22.00; McIntosh U.S. Extra Fancy 2 1/2 inch minimum mostly 18.00-22.00; Empire U.S. Extra Fancy 2 1/2 inch minimum mostly 18.00-22.00.

MICHIGAN — Shipments (38-49*-36) — Movement expected to continue seasonal decline. Trading Moderate. Prices Unchanged. cartons 12 3-pound film bags U.S. Extra Fancy Gala mostly 18.00-20.00, Red Delicious mostly 17.00-19.00, Fuji mostly 19.00-21.00, Tray pack 88s Gala and Fuji 24.00-28.00, Red Delicious mostly 20.00-22.00. Supplies of Fuji light, others fairly light. (* revised)

NEW ENGLAND 2019 CROP — Shipments (3-4-2) — Movement expected to seasonally decrease. Too few open market sales to establish a market.

Apricots

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CALIFORNIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (2-5*-5) — Movement expected to increase. Trading Fairly Slow. Prices Lower. Carton 2 layer Various Varieties 64s mostly 20.95-22.95, 72s mostly 18.95-20.95, 84s mostly 16.95-18.95 Carton 3 layer 162s mostly 14.95-16.95. Primary variety Kylese. Extra services included. (* revised)

Avocados

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH TEXAS 2019 CROP Crossings — (221-315-338) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading 32-48s fairly slow at higher prices, others fairly slow. Prices 32-48s higher, others lower. Cartons 2 layer Hass 32-36s mostly 40.25-42.25, 40s mostly 38.95-40.25, 48s mostly 38.25-40.25, 60s mostly 27.25-29.25, 70s mostly 21.25-22.25, 84s mostly 16.25-17.25. Extra services included.

SOUTH DISTRICT CALIFORNIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (153-171-U) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Moderate. Prices Conventional 40-48s and 70s higher, 32-36s, 60s and 84s lower, Organic generally unchanged. Carton 2 layer Hass 32-36s mostly 42.25-44.25, 40-48s mostly 40.25-42.25, 60s mostly 33.25-34.25, 70s mostly 21.25-23.25, 84s mostly 17.25-19.25. Carton 2 layer Hass ORGANIC 40s mostly 54.25-56.25, 48s mostly 56.25-57.25, 60s mostly 52.25, 70s mostly 38.25-40.25. Extra services included. (U = unavailable)

Blueberries

SOUTH AND CENTRAL DISTRICT CALIFORNIA Shipments — (54-71*-77, Shipments -*-) — Movement expected to increase. Trading early fairly slow, late slow. Prices Lower. Flats 12 1-pint cups with lids mostly 18.00-20.00. Flats 12 6-ounce cups with lids mostly 10.00-12.00. Cartons 8 18-ounce containers with lids mostly 20.00-22.00. ORGANIC flats 12 6-ounce cups with lids mostly 12.00-14.00. Quality variable. (* revised)

SOUTH GEORGIA 2020 CROP Shipments — (38-35-31) — Movement expected to remain about the same current week, decrease the following week as some hardest hit growers finish for the season. Trading Moderate. Prices ORGANIC pints higher, conventional lower. Flats 12 1-pint cups with lids large 16.00-18.00, ORGANIC 12 1-pint cups with lids medium large mostly 24.00-26.00, 6 ounce cups with lids medium-large 14.00-16.00. Quality variable.

EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA Shipments — (15-20-30) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Moderate. Prices Lower. Flats 12 1-pint cups with lids medium-large 18.00-22.00. Quality variable. Some present shipments include prior commitments. Includes palletizing and cooling.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS Crossings — (24-20*-15) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Trading Slow. Prices Generally Unchanged. Flats 12 6-oz cups with lids mostly 8.00-10.00. Quality and condition variable. (* revised)

Cantaloupes

GEORGIA — Shipments (0-2-22) — Movement expected to increase. Trading Active. Prices 24 inch bins Athena type 120s mostly 210.00-220.00, 150s 195.00, 180s 175.00. Includes palletizing and precooling. Quality generally good.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES ARIZONA — Crossings (41-33-14) — Movement expected to decrease sharply as mostly shippers are finished for the season. Trading Slow. 1/2 cartons 9-12s supplies insufficient and in too few hands to establish a market. Quality variable. Lighter — Shipments expected to continue through June 13. LAST REPORT.

IMPERIAL AND PALO VERDE VALLEYS CALIFORNIA AND CENTRAL AND WESTERN ARIZONA — Shipments — (AZ 18-156-173) (CA 34-82-57) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Trading Moderate. Prices Lower. Oversized 1/2 cartons 9s (6 size) mostly 12.95-13.95. ½ cartons 6s 8.95, 9s mostly 12.95-13.95, 12s mostly 8.95. Quality generally good.

NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA Light — Shipments expected to start by week of June 14 with sufficient volume and number of shippers for first F.O.B. report by week of June 21.

Cherries

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CALIFORNIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (326-327-220) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Trading Active. Prices Slightly Higher. 16 pound containers/bagged various red sweet varieties; 9 1/2 row size mostly 48.00-52.00, 10 row size mostly 45.00-48.00, 10 1/2 row size mostly 45.00-46.00, 11 row size mostly 44.00-45.00, 11 1/2 row size mostly 34.00-36.00, 12 row size 20.00-28.00. Extra services included. Wide range in quality. Some Shipments being booked at previously committed prices.

YAKIMA VALLEY AND WENATCHEE DISTRICT WASHINGTON — Harvest expected to begin in early areas the week of May 31. The first F.O.B. report is expected to be issued the week of June 21.

Grapes

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES ARIZONA — Crossings (87-200-400) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Trading early active, late moderate. Prices Perlette and Flame much lower, others lower. 18 pound containers bagged U.S. One large Perlette mostly 16.95-18.95, White Seedless 20.95-22.95, Flame mostly 22.95, Black Seedless mostly 18.95. Quality generally good.

COACHELLA VALLEY CALIFORNIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (0-0-24) — Movement expected to increase. Sporadic harvesting has begun in the region. F.O.B. expected to begin on or around June 4th.

CHILE IMPORTS — PORT OF ENTRY LOS ANGELES AREA 2020 CROP Imports via Boat — (5-0-0) — 18 lb containers bagged Supplies insufficient and in too few hands to establish a market. LAST REPORT.

CHILE IMPORTS — PORT OF ENTRY PHILADELPHIA AREA 2020 CROP Imports via Boat — (20-5-0) — 18 lb containers bagged Supplies insufficient and in too few hands to establish a market. LAST REPORT.

Lemons

SOUTH AND CENTRAL DISTRICT CALIFORNIA — Shipments Moderate — Movement expected about the same. Trading Fairly Active. Prices Shippers First Grade 75-200s and Choice 75s, 140s, slightly higher, others generally unchanged. 7/10 bushel cartons Shippers First Grade 75s mostly 27.18-30.20, 95-115s mostly 29.18-32.20, 140s mostly 28.18-32.20, 165s mostly 25.18-27.20, 200s 24.18-27.20, 235s mostly 20.18-23.20; Shippers Choice 75s mostly 17.18-20.20, 95s mostly 19.18-22.20, 115s mostly 20.18-22.20, 140s mostly 21.18-25.20, 165-200s mostly 22.18-25.20, 235s mostly 19.18-21.20. ORGANIC 7/10 bushel Shippers First Grade 75s mostly 31.18-35.20, 95-115s mostly 45.18-49.20, 140s mostly 42.18-47.20; Shippers Choice 95-115s mostly 28.18-35.20, 140s 25.18-35.20.

Nectarines

CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CALIFORNIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (18-38*-51) — Movement expected to increase. Trading Fairly Slow. Various Yellow Varieties carton 2 layer 48-50s mostly 24.95-26.95, 54-56s mostly 20.95-23.95, 25 lb carton loose 60-64 size mostly 20.95, 70-72 size mostly 16.95-18.95. Various White Varieties carton 2 layer 48-50s mostly 24.95-26.95, 54-56s mostly 21.95-22.95, 25 lb carton loose 60-64 size 16-95-18.95, 70-72 size mostly 14.95-16.95. Primary Varieties See fire, Red Ryan and Polar Light. Extra services included. (* revised)

Oranges

FLORIDA — Shipments (90-84-78, Includes exports 0-3-2) — Prices not reported. — Shipments are for weeks ending May 2, May 9 and May 16 in that order.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL DISTRICT CALIFORNIA — Shipments Moderate — Movement expected to decrease slightly. Supplies Navel 113-138s light. Trading Active. Prices Higher. 7/10 bushel cartons Navel Shippers First Grade 40s 19.18-21.20, 48-56s 21.18-23.20, 72-88s mostly 24.18-27.20, 113-138s mostly 22.18-23.20; Shippers Choice 40s mostly 13.18-16.20, 48s mostly 16.18-18.20, 56s mostly 17.18-19.20, 72-113s mostly 18.18-20.20, 138s mostly 19.18-20.20. Valencia Shippers First Grade 48s mostly 17.18-21.20, 56s mostly 18.18-22.20, 72-88s mostly 21.18-25.20, 113-138s mostly 20.18-23.20; Shippers Choice 48s mostly 15.18-16.20, 56s mostly 15.18-17.20, 72s mostly 16.18-19.20, 88s mostly 17.18-19.20, 113s mostly 18.18-20.20, 138s mostly 19.18-20.20.

Peaches

CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CALIFORNIA 2020 CROP — Shipments (8-35*-56) — Movement expected to increase. Trading Fairly Slow. Prices Lower. Various Yellow Varieties Cartons 2 layer tray pack 54-56s mostly 18.95-20.95, 25 lb carton loose 60-64 size mostly 14.95-16.95, 70-72 size mostly 10.95-13.95. Various White Flesh Varieties 25 lb carton loose 60-64 size 16.95-18.95, 70-72 size 8.95-10.96. Extra services included. Primary yellow flesh varieties Mat Princess and Krista. (* revised)

SOUTH CAROLINA 2020 CROP — Shipments (18-53-54) — Movement expected to remain about the same as new varieties start to come in. Trading Fairly Slow. Prices Lower. 1/2 bushel cartons Various Yellow Flesh varieties 2 3/4 inch minimum 20.85-22.85 2 1/2 inch min 16.85-18.85 and 2 1/4 inch min 10.85-12.85. Some (all sizes) shipped with price to be determined later. Varieties include: Ruby Prince, June Prince, MayLady, Crimson Lady and Gold Prince. Quality generally good.

Raspberries

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS — Crossings (42-36*-24) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Trading early moderate, late slow. Prices Generally Unchanged. Flats 12 6-ounce cups with lids mostly 18.00. Quality generally good. Most present shipments from prior bookings and/or previous commitments. (* revised)

SALINAS-WATSONVILLE CALIFORNIA — Shipments (5-10-16) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Trading early moderate, late fairly slow. Prices Generally Unchanged. Flats 12 6-ounce cups with lids mostly 18.00-20.00. Quality generally good. Most present shipments from prior bookings and/or previous commitments.

Strawberries

SALINAS-WATSONVILLE CALIFORNIA — Shipments (296-307-390) — Movement expected to increase slightly. Trading Very Slow. Prices Conventional lower, Organic generally unchanged. Flats 8 1-lb containers with lids large-extra large mostly 6.00-7.00. Quality variable. ORGANIC flats 8 1-pound containers with lids large-extra large mostly 9.00-10.00. Some sales booked open with price to be established later.

SANTA MARIA DISTRICT — Shipments (361-358-314) — Movement expected to decrease. Trading Very Slow. Prices Conventional lower, Organic slightly lower. Flats 8 1-pound containers with lids medium large mostly 6.00. ORGANIC Flats 1-pound containers with lids medium-large mostly 8.00-10.00. Quality and condition variable. Some berries being diverted to freezer and/or processor. Some sales booked open with price to be established later.

EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA — Shipments (6-4-2) — Movement expected to continue decreasing as most shippers are finished for the season. Supplies insufficient and in too few hands to establish a market. LAST REPORT.

Watermelons

FLORIDA — Shipments (1,204-1,186-869, Seeded 54-83-48; Seedless 1150-1103-821) — Movement expected to remain about the same. Trading Red Flesh Seeded Active, Red Flesh Seedless Very Active. Prices Red Flesh Seeded Lower, Red Flesh Seedless Higher. 24 inch bins. Red Flesh Seeded type 35s 119.00; Seedless type 36s 154.00-168.00, 45s 154.00-168.00, 60s 154.00-168.00. Quality generally good.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES ARIZONA — Crossings (881-680-615) — Movement expected about the same. Trading approximately 35-60 counts active at slightly lower prices, others moderate. Prices approximately 35-60 counts slightly lower, others generally unchanged. Red Flesh Seedless type 24 inch bins approximately 35-45 counts mostly 140.00-147.00, approximately 60 count mostly 140.00. Miniature cartons 6s 11.95-12.95, 8-9s mostly 13.95-14.95, 11s mostly 9.95-10.95. Quality variable.

LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS — Shipments (361-533*-212) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Trading very active. Prices generally unchanged. Red Flesh Seedless type 24 inch bins per pound approximately 35 mostly .23-.24, approximately 45 count mostly .24, approximately 60 count mostly .22. Quality generally good. Harvest curtailed by rain and wet fields May 22-25 and May 28-31. (*revised)

GEORGIA — Shipments (0-0-0) — Light harvest expected to start current week. Expect sufficient volume for first F.O.B. within 14 days.

IMPERIAL AND COACHELLA VALLEYS CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN ARIZONA — Shipments (AZ 11-47-70, CA 13-51-55) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Trading Very Active. Prices approximately 35-60 counts higher, others generally unchanged. 24 inch bins Red Flesh Seedless type approximately 35 count mostly 168.00, approximately 45 count mostly 168.00-182.00, approximately 60 count mostly 168.00-175.00. ORGANIC 24 inch bins Red Flesh Seedless type approximately 35-60 counts mostly 245.00, Seeded type approximately 35-60 counts 150.00-175.00. Quality generally good.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CALIFORNIA — Harvest expected to begin the week of June 21. Quality expected to be generally good. FIRST REPORT

SOUTH CAROLINA — Light Shipments expected to begin week of May 31 with sufficient volume and number of shippers for first F.O.B. report by week of June 14.

Oranges lead U.S. export growth

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:36:33 GMT

U.S. fresh orange and tangerines showed the best year-over-year growth of any major fresh commodity in export sales in the year from May 2019 through April this year.

U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics show that U.S. orange and tangerine exports to all countries were up 13% compared with the same period a year ago.

U.S. fresh produce exports for the 12 months ending in March totaled $7.01 billion, down 1% compared with the year earlier. U.S. fresh fruit exports were $4.39 billion, unchanged from a year ago.

Fresh vegetable exports were $2.62 billion, down 1% compared with a year ago.

The USDA reported export sales for top U.S. fresh exports (May 2019 through April 2020), compared with percent change compared with 2019:

Apples : $929.4 million, up 2%;
Grapes : $728.5 million, down 7%;
Berries : $711.4 million, up 2%;
Oranges and tangerines: $653.2 million, up 13%;
Lettuce: $515.3 million, up 3%;
Cherries: $494.9 million, down 5%;
Onions/Shallots: $206.2 million, down 10%;
Lemons and Limes: $155.9 million, down 5%;
Cauliflower: $154.6 million, down 6%;
Pears: $154.6 million, down 4%;
Melons: $136.3 million, down 13%;
Peaches: $128.2 million, down 2%;
Tomatoes: $117.48 million, up 4%;
Carrots: $111.6 million, down 2%;
Broccoli: $97.4 million: down 3%; and
Celery: $97.05 million, down 8%.

The Packer’s USDA coverage

The Packer’s Orange coverage

Texas Mexfly finds establish residential citrus quarantines

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:36:48 GMT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Texas Department of Agriculture has established a Mexican fruit fly quarantine in a resident area in Zapata, Texas.

The quarantine establishes safeguarding measures and restrictions on interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from the area, according to a news release from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

APHIS confirmed a Mexfly larva from a grapefruit in a residential area on May 11, and three more were found in residential areas nearby on May 12, 13 and 19, according to a news release.

A mated female was found on May 15. The quarantine area is about 80 square miles in Zapata County; there are no commercial groves or packing shed in the quarantined area. APHIS and the state department of agriculture are responding with surveys and treatment protocols, according to the USDA.

The USDA tracks fruit fly quarantines on its website .

Related stories:

Mexfly find in south Texas brings expanded quarantine

USDA lifts Mexfly quarantines in Texas

Fruit fly quarantine covers Southern California ports

USDA, other groups shift HLB research from lab to grove

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:36:28 GMT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and other groups have invested nearly $47 million in research over the past six years through the Huanglongbing Multiagency Coordination Group.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and other entities in the group — known as HLB MAC — are focused on research and development projects to give citrus growers a way to fight against HLB, also known as citrus greening. The disease doesn’t affect human health, but damages citrus , making it unmarketable.

Projects have focused on controlling the Asian citrus psyllid, which spreads the disease, infected tree therapies, technology to protect new plantings and ways to detect the disease earlier, according to a news release.

This year, the group is focusing on “shovel-ready” projects that are ready to move from the lab to the grove. HLB MAC will announce funding decisions on projects in early July.

Research and development remains a priority, according to the release.

“APHIS is currently working with USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service to establish funding opportunities that will support long-term innovation and further advance methods for combating citrus greening disease,” according to the APHIS release.

Related stories:

Florida researchers find success in citrus greening study

Updated citrus nutrition guide helps growers deal with greening

California increases HLB quarantine areas

Immunity, boxes and ports: COVID-19 news roundup

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:07:48 GMT

From highlighting the immunity-boosting properties of fresh citrus to taking an in-depth look at how the pandemic is affecting different sectors of the industry, companies continue to respond during the crisis.

Recent news items on the COVID-19 include the following items.

Bee Sweet Citrus

Bee Sweet Citrus , Fowler, Calif., has a month-long campaign focusing on citrus being a source of vitamin C and the fruit’s role in boosting immunity.

You, Me and Vitamin C is a strategic campaign in July, with consumer interest boosting the profile of citrus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the month, Bee Sweet will tailor its social media to promote the benefits of vitamin C, and ways consumers can supplement their immune system with citrus fruits, according to a news release.

“Our goal is to equip our audience with the knowledge they need to make healthy food choices, as well as promote the benefits of incorporating citrus fruits into their diet,” Monique Bienvenue, the company’s director of communications, said in the release.

Bee Sweet’s digital platforms will include variety-specific recipes, infographics and contests. As a Produce for Kids partner, Bee Sweet recipes and information will be a part the charity’s July 9 Twitter party, with a focus on health during the pandemic.

“When our marketing team initially spoke about the elements of this campaign, we knew that we wanted it to have something for everyone,” Bienvenue said in the release. “Whether you’re a parent looking for fun and creative ways to pass the time, or you’re a foodie interested in learning what makes citrus so special – we’ve designed this campaign with everyone in mind.”

DiMare Fresh

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded DiMare Fresh a second contract through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

The company has packed and delivered more than 1.43 million boxes with 27.25 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to more than 225 nonprofit organizations, according to a news release. The USDA approved a $24.36 million contract for DiMare through the program in May.

“Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the need for food assistance has increased drastically and the Houston Food Bank has ramped up its distribution significantly,” Brian Greene, president and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, said in a news release. “As we work to provide a steady flow of nutritious, healthy food to our communities, this support from DiMare Fresh is absolutely crucial.”

The first wave of food box contracts, which were announced May 8, ran through the end of June. New contracts cover July 1 to Aug. 31.

“As a family-owned business that’s over 90-years-old, and as farmers ourselves — we are appreciative to be involved with the USDA and this very worthy, and much needed, Farmers to Families Food Box Program,” Tony DiMare, an owner of the company, said in the release. “We would like to thank our suppliers in the farming and shipping communities, as well as our people who have stayed committed and have been working non-stop since day one delivering the boxes.

The Food Institute

The Food Institute is hosting a web seminar on how COVID-19 has affected the produce industry.

The hour-long seminar, which starts at 2 p.m. Eastern July 13, is called “What’s Happening in Produce — Latest Trends Impacting Consumers, Retail vs. Foodservice and the Supply Chain,” and features Produce Marketing Association CEO Cathy Burns and Anne-Marie Roerink, principal at 210 Analytics.

Registration for the web seminar is online. A link to slides from the presentation and a recording of the seminar will be available following the event, according to a news release.

Issues to be covered during the seminar include:

Where to find up-to-date information on buying patterns of fresh produce during the crisis;
Benefits of a deep-dive into current spending data for retail and foodservice; and
How the crisis has affected the overall fresh produce industry.

FreshDirect

FreshDirect , Bronx, N.Y., has raised $1 million in donations for NY Common Pantry in less than five months.

In February, FreshDirect enabled customers to contribute to the food pantry through point-of-sale donations ranging from $1.25 (the cost of one pantry meal) to $100 at FreshDirect.com , according to a news release.

When pantry volunteers were no longer available due to the COVID-19 crisis, FreshDirect turned over part of its operation to sourcing, packing and delivering food to the NY Common Pantry facilities.

“We partnered with NY Common Pantry to introduce our customers to the organization’s great work through onsite content and the opportunity to donate. But the COVID pandemic revealed another level of food insecurity, as well as challenges getting food into the hands of those in need,” FreshDirect CEO David McInerney said in the release. “The response from FreshDirect customers and our own employees has been nothing short of remarkable.”

Through the partnership, NY Common Pantry expects to serve more than 1 million meals to its Choice Pantry members in 2020.

Port of Heuneme

The Port of Hueneme (Calif.), with partners Del Monte Fresh Produce and other groups, have hosted 20 food distribution events across Ventura County recently.

The community events are part of the Feeding the Frontline: Feeding our Farmworkers campaign to help feed field workers and others deemed essential workers in the fresh produce industry. Other groups with similar events include the City of Hueneme, Clinica Del Campo Real and Lujan Transport Inc. The latest event was June 27 at Orvene S. Carpenter Community Center in Port Heuneme.

“Our work does not stop at the docks,” Oxnard Harbor District President Jess Ramirez said in a news release. “It actually continues to impact the community as soon as our customers receive the goods that they are also contributing, to maintain our community food distributions to particularly those directly affected by the pandemic.”

During the events, more than 10,000 families have been served, with bananas , strawberries and other produce part of the giveaways, according to the release. The port’s Banana Festival, usually in September, is being substituted for COVID-19 relief efforts, according to the release, with the agreement of the Oxnard Harbor District Commissioners, according to the release.

The port moves $9.5 billion in goods a year, according to the release, ranking as a top 10 U.S. port year after year for fruits and vegetables.

Port of Oakland

The Port of Oakland (Calif.) is curtailing Fiscal Year 2021 spending plans because of the COVID-19 crisis, with a 16% drop due to a decline in cargo and air traffic.

Port commissioners recently approved the FY 2021 plan, with a projected $432.5 million in operating and capital expenditures, a drop from the previous year’s budget of $513.6 million, according to a news release. The new fiscal year starts July 1.

The budget is based on “best estimates of how our business may recover, assuming that our communities and country make slow but steady progress in containing the COVID-19 virus,” Danny Wan, Port of Oakland executive director, said in the release.

The Oakland Airport is part of the port system, and with passenger volume off from 80% to 96%, it could take up to three years for an aviation sector recovery.

The 2021 budget includes $19.1 million of federal coronavirus relief funding, and an additional $25.5 million will be used in 2022 and 2023, according to the release.

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Virtual tours and demos, wine and food: Industry responds to crisis

Certis USA donates for HLB research

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:39:05 GMT

Biopesticides company Certis USA has donated another $20,000 to the Citrus Research and Development Foundation Inc., to help in its research on huanglongbing.

Also known as citrus greening disease and HLB, the disease has devastated the Florida citrus industry and has been detected in other citrus-producing states.

It’s the fourth year Certis USA, Columbia, Md., has made the donation, according to a news release, through its “Certis for Citrus” program that uses sales from top products to fund the foundation’s work.

“The Florida citrus community trusts our Kocide family of products for the effective control of bacterial and fungal diseases in their groves,” product manager Jerry Adamson said in the release. “We are happy to show our gratitude for that support each year through the ‘Certis for Citrus’ donation to fund the amazing work being done by our friends at the CRDF.”

Related stories:

USDA, other groups shift HLB research from lab to grove

Florida researchers find success in citrus greening study

Citrus growers continue to combat HLB

Webinars, boxes and a party: what’s happening during pandemic

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:07:39 GMT

A number of online events are scheduled around the continuing COVID-19 crises, designed to educate and in one case, to celebrate the end of a harvest in what has been very unorthodox circumstances.

The following news items are a roundup of recent industry news focusing on the crisis and how companies are responding.

Alliance for Food and Farming

The Alliance for Food and Farming is hosting a web seminar designed for nutrition communicators and professionals such as dietitians on information learned about COVID-19.

“After four months of growing, harvesting and shipping fruits and vegetables during a pandemic, the agriculture community has learned a tremendous amount after overcoming the numerous challenges that have arisen during these uncertain times,” according to a news release. “But there is always room for further improvement, especially as the national landscape seems to change daily.”

The seminar is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. Central July 28. Registration is online.

Elizabeth Shaw, health and wellness consultant and owner of Shaw Simple Swaps is the seminar panel moderator, and scheduled panelists are:

Lee-Ann Jaykus, William Neal Reynolds distinguished professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences at North Carolina State University;
Trevor Suslow, vice president of food safety at the Produce Marketing Association; and
Kay and Chris Filice, who represent the second and third generations, respectively at Filice Farms, a Hollister, Calif., based grower of fruits and vegetables.

They’ll speak about what they’ve learned in the past few months and discuss future challenges in agriculture as farmers work to provide an adequate supply of safe and healthy food during the pandemic, according to the release.

Bobalu Berries

The COVID-19 pandemic forced Oxnard, Calif.-based Bobalu Berries to cancel its annual BBQ marking the halfway point of California strawberry harvest.
Employees instead were treated to meals from food trucks sent to the company’s ranch.

“There is a strong demand for the best employees, and we deeply appreciate the caliber of employees we have on staff,” RC Jones, managing partner, said in a news release. “Many have been with our family for more than 40 years, and we value their commitment to us.”

The company is determined to have its annual end-of-season party, and is already planning for the event. The company will raffle off two new cars along with other prizes.

The party will be a virtual event with “a sense of celebration with prizes, local radio station support, music and announcements for each employee to tune-in and hear the results from their location,” according to the release.

Collins Brothers/DS Smith

Collins Brothers Produce , Atlanta, is packing produce into boxes for food banks through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

David Collins, owner of the company, said the box itself is important, especially in the humid Deep South. The company, which received an $7.3 million initial contract and an extension through Aug. 31, is using DS Smith Greencoat boxes from its Columbia, S.C., plant. The boxes are treated with a water-resistant coating that allows them to maintain strength when wet, but are still recyclable, unlike wax-coated cartons, which are traditionally used to pack wet vegetables.

By the end of the second contract, Collins Brothers will have packed 750,000 of the boxes, according to a news release.

Collins Brothers is packing a mix of apples , oranges , potatoes , onions , cabbage , zucchini , peaches and cucumbers .

“Throughout the pandemic, we’ve been deemed an essential business, remaining operational and supporting our customers and communities, and quickly changing our product mix to package products,” Troy Hagenbuch, specialty business unit general manager at DS Smith North America, said in the release.

The Food and Beverage Issue Alliance

The Food and Beverage Issue Alliance is hosting a web seminar on the Center for Disease Control’s plan for COVID-19 testing in the workplace.

Specifically, the seminar looks at the testing strategy in “high-density critical infrastructure workplaces” after a co-worker tests positive for COVID-19.

The seminar features panelists from the CDC, Food and Drug Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

It is from 3-4 p.m. Eastern July 16. Registration is online.

Scheduled panelists for the web seminar are:

Megin Nichols, Enteric Zoonoses Activity Lead for the CDC;
Mike Grant, industrial hygienist and the CDC;
Johnathan Bearr, health scientist at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration;
Rear Adm. David Goldman, chief medical officer of the FDA’s office of food policy and response; and
Mark Moorman, director of the FDA’s office of food safety.

The Food and Beverage Issue Alliance represents almost 60 associations, including the United Fresh Produce Association, the Food Industry Association (FMI), Produce Marketing Association, the U.S. Apple Association and the National Restaurant Association.

Stemilt Growers

A summer tradition at Stemilt Growers , an in-person cherry education experience, is yet another industry event that’s going digital because of the pandemic.

Stemilt, Wenatchee, Wash., will have its Stemilt U: Virtual Cherry College web seminar at 11 a.m. Pacific, July 22. Tate Mathison, director of sales, will lead the hour-long seminar, which will take participants through cherry harvest, packing and shipping, according to a news release.

“Since COVID-19 has put a pause on in-person events, we pivoted and are now sharing the next best thing through this Virtual Cherry College webinar,” Brianna Shales, senior marketing manager, said in the release. “It’s a great way to educate your entire produce or merchandising teams about where sweet cherries come from, how they are grown, and how to effectively market and merchandise cherries.”

Tate and his father, cherry grower Kyle Mathison, will talk about the growing environment through the packing process, and marketing director Roger

Pepperl will talk about best practices for marketing and merchandising cherries, followed by a question-and-answer session.

University of Florida

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension staff is working to understand barriers agriculture producers and processors are facing in keeping employees safe during the pandemic.

The UF-IFAS Extension team has created a survey to ask those who are working in food production and processing directly about the effects of the pandemic, according to a blog post by Ruth Borger on the UF-IFAS site.

“Agricultural workers are considered essential workers during this crisis and have been on the job from day one,” Christine Kelly-Begazo, with UF-IFAS Extension Indian River County, said in the blog post. “The information learned from this survey will directly impact what the training we provide this summer and fall.”

There are 10 questions in the survey.

All answers are confidential. Questions or comments may be directed to Christine Kelly-Begazo, UF-IFAS Indian River County Extension, at 772-226-4316

USDA-FDA

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue talked with food safety experts from his department and the Food and Drug Administration on a recent “ Sonnyside of the Farm ” podcast.

Frank Yiannas, FDA Deputy Commissioner, and Mindy Brashears, the USDA’s under secretary for food safety spoke about the safety of the food supply during the pandemic.

Perdue talks about the “just in time” supply chain model that makes for an efficient and cheap food system in the U.S., but with the loss of the foodservice sector, food grown for that channel had nowhere to go.

“When we saw those restaurants close, it created a major realignment there and we had to react nimbly and quickly realign the supply with the demand,” Perdue said.

Yiannas said FDA suspended some routine inspections during the pandemic, but “mission critical” investigations and inspections into food recalls or foodborne illness outbreaks continued as they normally would.

“We’ve also implemented some new measures that I think hold great promise for the USDA and the FDA in the future,” Yiannas said on the podcast. “We’ve conducted some of what we refer to virtual remote monitoring inspections. When you think of the role technology might play in the future, there might be applications for this.”

Yiannas also spoke of the pandemic’s effect indirectly on the food supply; although coronavirus does not seem to be transmitted via food, the FDA has been involved in rules governing agricultural workers and how they can remain healthy during the outbreak.

Kari Slagel contributed to this roundup of articles.

For more coverage of the pandemic, see The Packer’s COVID-19 webpage .

Related stories:

Protecting workers and feeding children during pandemic

Immunity, boxes and ports: COVID-19 news roundup

Avocados to walnuts: industry’s response to pandemic

Citrus greening treatment leads to AgTech Innovation Prize

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:40:48 GMT

TerMir Inc. , Raleigh, N.C., has received a $100,000 AgTech Innovation Prize for its citrus greening disease treatment.

The prize is from Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc., through its Alexandria LaunchLabs-AgTech, a Research Triangle, N.C., accelerator. The prize consists of $75,000 in cash and a year membership to LaunchLabs AgTech, a $25,000 value, according to a news release.

“Strategic efforts like our AgTech Innovation Prize are vital to fostering the next generation of leading agtech companies who hold the promise of developing groundbreaking solutions aimed at ensuring a sustainable, accessible and healthy global food supply,” Blake Stevens, head of Alexandria LaunchLabs – AgTech, said in a news release.

About 70 agtech companies applied for the prize, which was narrowed down to seven entries. Those applicants pitched their technology via video to the judges’ panel, according to the release.

TerMir was chosen for the AgTech Innovation Prize based on its proprietary, patent-protected technology that has a new mode of action to control the bacteria that causes citrus greening disease, its experienced leadership team and its traction in the agtech industry, according to the release.

“Alexandria remains focused on providing mission-critical infrastructure and capital to the essential agtech industry that has garnered increasing attention in the face of a growing population and changing weather patterns, as well the COVID-19 pandemic, which has further highlighted the need to transform the food supply chain and enhance the nutritional value of food,” Stevens said in the release.

“The TerMir team is excited to be selected as the prize winner and to become an active member of the campus communities of Alexandria LaunchLabs – AgTech and the Alexandria Center for AgTech,” Chad Brommer, co-founder of TerMir, said in the release. “We look forward to making the most of Alexandria’s world-class network of industry experts and investors and its unparalleled offerings.”

Related stories:

USDA, other groups shift HLB research from lab to grove

Florida researchers find success in citrus greening study

Updated citrus nutrition guide helps growers deal with greening

California researchers find promising HLB treatment

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:40:48 GMT

University of California-Riverside scientists have found a substance that can control huanglongbing, aka HLB, in a specialty citrus item.

The treatment kills the bacterium that causes the disease, using a molecule found in finger limes, according to the university’s communications department.

HLB, also known as citrus greening disease, has devastated Florida’s citrus industry and has been found in other citrus-producing states. Although it’s been detected and quarantined in California, it has yet to be found in commercial groves.

The molecule the University of California researchers are studying comes from Australian finger limes , which can tolerate HLB bacteria. University geneticist Hailing Jin made the discovery after a five years of research, according to the release. The antimicrobial peptide has advantages over antibiotics currently used on the disease, and is stable in the heat, is easy to make and is safe for humans.

“It is much safer to use this natural plant product on agricultural crops than other synthetic chemicals,” Jin said in the release.

The peptide remains stable at 130 degrees, making it more stable than most antibiotics, she said.

Jin has been studying the finger lime’s ability to withstand HLB for two years, isolating the gene that provides the immunity, according to the release.

“You can see the bacteria drastically reduced, and the leaves appear healthy again only a few months after treatment,” she said in the University of California-Riverside release.
The peptide can be applied as a spray on leaves or injected into the tree, and needs to be applied just twice a year.

UC-Riverside has an exclusive agreement with Invaio Science, which has proprietary injection technology that enhances the treatment.

“The prospect of addressing this previously incurable and devastating crop disease, helping agricultural communities and improving the environmental impact of production is exciting and rewarding,” Gerardo Ramos, chief science officer for Invaio, said in the release. “This is crop protection in harmony with nature.”

The UC-Riverside Office of Technology Partnerships is interested in the treatment, Brian Suh, director of technology commercialization for the office, with the state producing 80% of the fresh citrus in the U.S., according to the release.

Related stories:

Certis USA donates for HLB research

USDA, other groups shift HLB research from lab to grove

Updated citrus nutrition guide helps growers deal with greening

Duda’s Southern Hemisphere citrus season begins

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:40:27 GMT

Duda Farm Fresh Foods , Oviedo, Fla., is starting its South American citrus import program.

It’s the 18th season Duda has offered imported citrus, with supplies arriving through October.

The citrus, marketed under the Dandy label, is from Chile, Peru and Uruguay, according to a news release. Varieties include clementines , lemons , navel oranges , and cara cara oranges. Clementines this season a high sugar-to-acid ratio, according to Duda.

“Through the years, we’ve maintained relationships with trusted growers in the Southern Hemisphere to ensure quality fruit each summer,” Alberto Cuellar, vice president of global business, said in the release. “As we’ve seen an uptick in citrus demand due to COVID-19, we are continuing to meet consumer needs through our import citrus program as the domestic market comes to an end.”

Duda Farm Fresh Foods uses social media, consumer e-mails, influencers and public relations campaigns to promote citrus, along with a citrus recipe contest in the summer. This summer, the company also has a summer promotion to increase foot traffic at retail stores.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring premium citrus to consumers during domestic off months, allowing them to enjoy the refreshing fruit year-round,” Mark Bassetti, senior vice president, said in the release.

Related stories:

Duda imports citrus for the 17th season

Duda adds Dandy brand cara caras this summer

Cecelia Packing hires Angela Lopez-Avalos in sales

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:40:27 GMT

Angela Lopez-Avalos has joined Cecelia Packing Corp. , Orange Cove, Calif., as sales associate.

Lopez-Avalos has more than 24 years of experience in the produce industry, most recently at Fowler Packing, where she was in sales support, an account manager and sales office manager over 11 years. She has also worked at Ballantine Produce and Gerawan Farming, according to a news release.

Keith Wilson, sales manager at Cecilia Packing, said he welcomes her experience and “can-do attitude.”

“Jim Saavedra (in sales) and I look forward to working as a team with Angela to provide our customers with the services they need,” Wilson said in the release. “This position is important to the growth of our business, as our production of high-quality citrus continues to increase.”

Related stories:

Citrus growers continue to combat HLB

Cecilia Packing hires salesman

District 3 citrus season begins for Veg-Fresh Farms

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:35:30 GMT

Veg-Fresh Farms, Corona, Calif., is starting its winter citrus season.

The District 3 (D3) region — Riverside and the Coachella and Imperial valleys — starts this month, with fruit shipping into early spring.

Veg-Fresh Farms is in its sixth season packing under the Good Life Organic label, with lemons, grapefruit , minneolas and sweet limes from District 3, according to a news release.

Organic lemons are shipping from the district now through February, peaking in November/December with size 140/115 count, with limits on larger sizes, according to the release. D3 lemon harvest production is down 25%-35% from last season.

Organic grapefruit from D3 begin in mid-October and go through March, with peaks in November-January. Veg-Fresh expects sizes to peak on 48/40/56 counts, ideal for bags, according to the release.

Organic minneolas start in mid-December go through February, peaking in January. Peak sizes are expected in the 100/80/64 counts and will be available in bulk and bags.

Sweet limes from D3 will be available in mid-October through February.

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South Africa citrus exports enjoy record year

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 19:00:20 GMT

Total South Africa citrus exports will reach record levels in 2020 and exports to the U.S. also are setting new highs, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

The report said a spike in global demand for citrus during the COVID-19 pandemic and limited logistic disruptions helped contribute to record exports for South Africa citrus.

“The U.S. is considered a premium market and South African citrus exports to the U.S. are expected to reach record levels of above 70,000 metric tons in 2020, up 10% from the previous record of 63,544 metric tons in 2018,” the report said.

Through August this year, the USDA said U.S. imports of South African citrus totaled $57.3 million, up 47% from $38.9 million from January to August 2019.

The USDA said total exports from South Africa are expected to grow by 17% to reach 2.5 million metric tons this year.

Growth curve

The USDA said South Africa production has followed significant investments and aggressive new plantings of mandarins, lemons, and new varieties of oranges.

“This growth is mainly driven by the attractive investment returns and profit margins from citrus, and grower’s response to a spike in global demand especially for soft citrus and lemons,” the report said. “The benefits of citrus in boosting immunity and as a source for Vitamin-C during the COVID-19 pandemic has also been instrumental in the global demand spike for citrus.”

South Africa exports its citrus between March and August. While COVID-19 caused some complications in movement of product, the report said disruptions were relatively minor.

“While there were initial challenges at some of the ports in Cape Town and Durban, such as congestion, shortage of containers, and closures of ports for limited periods due to COVID-19 cases, the citrus industry was able to work around these challenges,” the report said.

The Packer’s Coverage South Africa

The Packer’s Coverage Sotuh African Citrus

Orange output down, USDA says

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:49:09 GMT

With Florida groves showing the biggest declines, the 2020-21 U.S. orange crop is forecast 11% lower, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first crop production report.

The USDA said the U.S. orange forecast for the 2020-2021 season is 4.65 million tons, down 11% from the 2019-20 season.

The Florida orange forecast, at 57 million 90-pound boxes (2.57 million tons), is down 15% from last season, according to the USDA.

On average, about 96% of Florida oranges are processed into orange juice, according to Florida Department of Citrus statistics.

The USDA said that Florida’s early, mid-season, and navel varieties are forecast at 23 million boxes (1.04 million tons), down 22% from last season’s final utilization. The Florida valencia orange forecast, at 34 million boxes (1.53 million tons), is down 10% from last season, according to the USDA.

Florida’s 2020-21 grapefruit production also is down, according to the USDA’s crop production estimate. At 4.5 million (85-pound) boxes, the 2020-21 estimate is down 7.3% compared with last season. About 40% of Florida’s grapefruit crop is sold fresh, according to the USDA.

Florida’s production of tangerines and mandarins rose 7.8%, from 1.02 million 95-pound boxes in 2019-20 to a forecast 1.1 million boxes in 2020-21. Just more than half of Florida’s tangerines and mandarins are shipped fresh, according to the USDA.

The dip in orange output isn’t a sign of continuing decline after years of battling citrus greening, one citrus leader said.

“Florida citrus growers are finding success through innovative mitigation efforts to fight citrus greening in their groves,” Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus , said in a news release. “Today’s forecast is more likely reflective of factors beyond grower control typical of the agricultural growth cycle than any one issue.”

California navels down, mandarins up

In California, where three out of four oranges are sold fresh, the USDA’s orange forecast is 50.5 million 80-pound boxes (2.02 million tons), down 5% from last season’s final utilization. The California navel orange forecast is 42 million boxes (1.68 million tons), down 5% from last season’s final utilization. The California valencia orange forecast is 8.5 million boxes (340,000 tons), down 6% from last season.

California’s mandarin/tangerine output is 23 million 80-pound boxes (920,000 tons), up 4.5% from last season’s output of 22 million boxes. About 75% of California’s mandarins/tangerines are sold fresh.

Grapefruit production in California is projected unchanged from a year ago, at 3.8 million 80-pound boxes. About 40% of California grapefruit is sold fresh, according to the USDA.

Lemon production in California in the 2020-21 season is forecast at 22 million 80-pound boxes (880,000 tons), down 14% from last season. The Arizona lemon forecast is 1.3 million (80-pound) boxes (52,000 tons), down 28% from last season. About 70% of U.S. lemons are sold fresh, according to the USDA. The Texas all orange forecast, at 1.50 million 85-pound boxes (64,000 tons), is up 12% from last season. Four in ten Texas oranges are sold fresh, the USDA says.

The USDA said Texas grapefruit output is pegged at 4.9 million 80-pound boxes, up 11% compared with 4.4 million boxes in 2019-20. About 40% of Texas grapefruit is sold fresh.

Price trends

The USDA Market News Service reported the average f.o.b. price for fresh oranges on Oct. 10 was $35.58 per carton, up from $25.14 a year ago. For grapefruit, the USDA reported the average shipping point price of $33.90, up from $25.90 a year ago. Lemons showed lower f.o.b. markets, with the Oct. 10 price of $30.64 per carton off 13% from the $35.42 per carton a year ago.

The Packer’s Orange Coverage

The Packer USDA Coverage

Summer Citrus from South Africa sponsors Fresh Summit reception

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:35:30 GMT

The borders may remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Summer Citrus from South Africa is able to participate in the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit Oct. 13-15.

The Citrusdal, South Africa-based group of citrus growers will sponsor PMA’s virtual global reception at 5:45 p.m. Eastern on Oct. 12.

The reception includes group presentations and “Let’s Get Acquainted” breakouts to encourage networking among participants logging in from around the world.

“With Fresh Summit on a virtual platform this year, we intend to deliver an extraordinary experience offering connections, content and community,” Lauren M. Scott, PMA chief marketing officer, said in the release.

Summer Citrus from South Africa is wrapping up its 2020 season and 21st year in the U.S. market with peak-volume later-season mandarin varieties and Midknights, according to the release.

“It’s been a record year for production and consumption of citrus due to the pandemic,” Suhanra Conradie, CEO of Summer Citrus from South Africa, said in the release. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to connect with the industry online during this time and participate in fostering meaningful and fruitful relationships.”

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South Africa citrus promotion boosted by pandemic demand

South African summer citrus begins weekly arrivals

South African citrus season starts soon

DiSilva Fruit, Morning Kiss Organic offer California citrus

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:35:09 GMT

DiSilva Fruit and Morning Kiss Organic are ready to deliver delicious, vitamin-packed organic and conventional citrus for the coming citrus season.

DiSilva Fruit and Morning Kiss Organic have seen tremendous growth in specialty and organic citrus over the last 5 years. Citrus is one of the leading categories of all organic purchases, and with additional demand noted as consumers aim to buy healthy foods during the current health crisis Morning Kiss Organic anticipates another strong season.

“Our organic citrus program gives consumers what they want – healthy, delicious fruit full of vitamin C and packaged to ensure it is being minimally handled,” says Nelly Czajkowski, Sales Manager at Morning Kiss Organic. “We’re looking forward to another successful California season.”

DiSilva Fruit will again offer packaged citrus in a range of customizable sizes and formats. Offerings will include California Navels , Cara-Cara Navels, Mandarins , lemons , Limes , and Heirloom Navels.

“Since the start of the pandemic we have seen an overwhelming demand for packaged citrus. Consumers are seeking vitamin C with value and convenience,” says Alden Guptill, Sales Manager at DiSilva Fruit. “And packaged citrus is a perfect complement for the rapidly expanding home delivery and curbside offerings that retailers have greatly expanded in the last few months.”

Employing just-in-time inventory management, citrus is freshly packed to order, in customizable packaging reducing loss to spoilage at retail, and therefore protecting the retailer’s bottom line. Produce is delivered daily to ensure the highest quality, and best tasting selection available.

To discuss how DiSilva Fruit and Morning Kiss Organic can help grow your citrus category and meet increased consumer demand for citrus, reach out to Alden Guptill or Nelly Czajkowski at plant@disilvafruit.com or 617-884-9033.