AutumnCrisp Sun World grape

Sun World International has announced the appointment of two California licensed grower-marketers, Jakov Dulcich & Sons (Sunlight International Sales) and Sun Pacific.

With the world’s longest-standing private table grape breeding programme, Sun World has worked to bring consumers better tasting grapes, introducing distinctive grapes sold under such notable brands as Superior Seedless, Midnight Beauty, Scarlotta Seedless, Sable Seedless, Autumncrisp and Adora Seedless.

To meet the growing global demand for these proprietary varieties and to ensure that sufficient qualities of these and future Sun World releases are even more accessible, Sun World is partnering with the two companies to grow and market its signature seedless grapes under license.

Sun Pacific began in 1969 with 72 acres of citrus, and today grows, packs and ships over 35m cartons of fresh fruit. The company is the number one kiwifruit grower, the largest grower-shipper of Clementines (sold under the Cuties brand) and navels, the second-largest tomato grower and a significant grower-shipper of table grapes in the US.

The Dulcich family, meanwhile, has been involved in table grape production since Jakov Dulcich and his wife Antoinette first settled in Delano in 1959 from Croatia. Today, the group grows, packs and ships grapes sold under the Pretty Lady brand by Sunlight International Sales.

Sunlight and SunPacific join 58 marketer licensees around the world who market Sun World fruit varieties.

“Our proprietary grapes are grown and distributed by some of the world’s finest producers and marketers in most major grape-growing regions of the world,” said Sun World executive vice-president David Marguleas. “The addition of Sun Pacific and Jakov Dulcich, two longstanding and prominent California grower-­shippers, along with our own expanding California production, ensures that consumers will enjoy even more distinctive proprietary seedless grapes throughout the year.”