REEDLEY, CA - Shoppers and retailers alike await the return of the California citrus season each year as fall approaches in the Nothern Hemisphere, bringing with it cool air, a host of progressive growers, deep roots, and vibrant premium fruit. Bravante Produce is not only meeting the demand from retailers across North America in time to kick off the season in October, but bringing an elevated marketing and growing program to address the needs of an ever-changing buy-side vision. While October may seem a ways down the line, Bravante Produce is already building retail programs with its customers as they look to get and stay ahead.
“For the 2020 to 2021 citrus season, Bravante Produce will be taking over the selling of our citrus portfolio as we depart from Sunkist Growers,” Steve Shearer, Sales Manager, shares with me, adding that the time spent in the Sunkist fold allowed the company to cultivate its growing practices and evolve an already firm foundation in the citrus category. “George Bravante has decided to make a change and will step up our program this year. We will be bringing the sales and marketing and selling our citrus portfolio under our Bravante Premium Citrus brand.”
In addition to Bravante’s table grape and cherry portfolio, Bravante Produce currently grows and packs nearly 3,000 acres of citrus, with varieties including, Navel oranges, Valencias, Cara Caras, Blood Oranges, Minneolas, and Mandarins. Bravante also has a significant San Joaquin Valley Lemon portfolio in California that will provide customers with premium lemons for the entire season.
Bravante’s citrus packing facility is located in Reedley, California.
“We have spent the last few years developing our premium Bravante brand with our table grapes and cherries, and now we get to add that branding to the citrus portfolio. Our citrus has a strong following in the export markets due to the quality of the product, and we are excited to put our name on the box and continue to build on that success,” Steve tells me, reflecting on the vision of its company Founder. “George made the decision to execute our strategy directly with our great retail partners.”
Bravante’s season will begin at the end of October with navels and lemons and will continue with fruit all the way through June.
“We look forward to supplying customers, from start to finish, without any gaps in supply,” Steve concludes.
Peeling back the layers to find the value in such a relationship is an easy task when partnering with a company like Bravante Produce. With excellence across its table grape and cherry programs, there is only success in the stars for the citrus powerhouse and for those who find their niche in the company’s premium fruit portfolio.
