The California cooperative is entering the new citrus season with strong crop availability and the launch of its Sunkist Produce Academy at IFPA
Sunkist Growers has said it is anticipating strong availability for its key varieties ahead of the new California citrus campaign.
The cooperative noted it is heading into the season with “strong momentum”, with a varied portfolio including Navels, Cara Cara oranges, mandarins, blood oranges, Minneola tangelos, lemons, grapefruit and organic fruit.
At this year’s IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show, which takes place in Orlando on 14-16 October, Sunkist is welcoming visitors to join them and explore crop opportunities, merchandising solutions and consumer engagement initiatives head of the Californian campaign.
The group will introduce Sunkist Produce Academy at the event, a new online learning platform designed to help produce professionals build product knowledge, strengthen selling skills and gain practical insights across retail, foodservice and produce operations.
The platform offers training across multiple produce categories to help industry professionals identify opportunities to drive sales and help with ever-increasing turnover and training expenses.
Sunkist will also showcase continued momentum behind its consumer-facing ’Welcome to the Co-Op’ platform, which highlights the growers and families behind the cooperative, ”reinforcing the heritage and grower values that have defined Sunkist for more than 130 years”.
“Welcome to the Co-Op reflects our belief that the best way to build the Sunkist brand is by putting the people behind the fruit at the centre of the story,” said Cassie Howard, senior director of category management and marketing at Sunkist.
“That approach continues to resonate with consumers and is helping strengthen awareness, engagement and connection with the Sunkist brand as we enter the new season.”
The continued growth of Sunkist Cali Mandarins, which have delivered double-digit volume growth, and the cooperative’s organic citrus programme, will also be highlighted in Orlando.
“Success doesn’t happen through a single investment or initiative,” said Christian Harris, senior vice-president and chief operating officer at Sunkist.
“It’s the result of continually looking for ways to improve how we operate, how we serve customers and how we position the organisation for the future.
”That’s the approach driving many of the decisions we’re making today,” Harris outlined.
Looking ahead, Sunkist said it is preparing for another season of retail, foodservice and consumer programming.
Last season’s campaign included a holiday carton programme that drove a 24 per cent lift in Navel orange volumes.
The cooperative will once again offer holiday packaging, Lunar New Year merchandising solutions, new seasonal giro bag options and additional consumer activations designed to support citrus sales, it added.
