California-based grower-shipper Cal Citrus Packing Co Inc has become the newest member of grower-owned international citrus marketing cooperative Sunkist Growers.
The company, which produces a number of citrus products including Navel and Valencia oranges as well as lemons across more than 800ha in California's Central Valley, is projected to add 40,000 cartons of lemons, 1.1m cartons of Navels and 125,000 cartons of Valencias to Sunkist’s portfolio for the 2008/09 season.
As well as shipping fruit bearing the Sunkist brand, Cal Citrus will also continue to pack fruit under the Portokali, Seabiscuit, Sugar Test, Jungle Cat, Golden Boy and My Goodness labels.
Jerry Luallen, president of Cal Citrus, said the company was looking forward to working with Sunkist. “We have an excellent product and Sunkist has an excellent marketing network and a brand name that is known around the world,' he commented.
According to Mr Luallen, Sunkist has been streamlining its operations, reducing costs and greatly expanding the opportunities it offers to growers and shippers, changes which have convinced Cal Citrus to join the cooperative. 'We’ve watched the changes and seen the results and we’re excited about joining Sunkist and enjoying the benefits of membership,' he said.
Sunkist's president elect Russ Hanlin told reporters he was extremely pleased to welcome Cal Citrus into the Sunkist network. 'They are a very experienced and respected grower and packer, known for their customer service,' he said. 'The affiliation brings to our system a large supply quality citrus and a philosophy of excellence that matches our own.'
Cal Citrus traces its beginnings back to the founding of Luallen Soil Service, a company which began purchasing a base of investor ranches in Central Valley which soon grew to over 600ha.
As the company continued to grow it purchased a packhouse in 1969, establishing Cal Citrus Packing Company. Seven years later, the group bought the former Waddel Packing business in Lindsay and in 1981 established a third packhouse, also in Lindsay, which now houses its existing citrus bagging operation.
“We have been growing and harvesting for nearly a century and packing and shipping since the 1950s.” said Mr Luallen. “We have years of experience and dedication in producing a great product. We are very proud of our Central California ‘Lindsay Citrus Belt’ heritage and we are committed to maintaining our reputation of quality and integrity and expanding our marketing reach through Sunkist.”
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