PASADENA, CA - Cuties® grower Sun Pacific is looking to revitalize excitement for the navels category, a demand which has seen some slowing in the U.S. over the last decade.
“Oranges are still a popular fruit and an important part of retailers’ produce section,” said Barney Evans, Vice President of Sales and Owner of Sun Pacific. “That’s why we continuously look to bring innovation to both the fruit itself and the merchandising support we provide. That’s the winning combination for retailers when it comes to creating interest in the category.”
To do this, the company introduced Vintage Sweets Heirloom Navel Oranges at the beginning of 2015.
Vintage Sweets come from Sun Pacific’s best old-line groves, according to a press release, and are selected through:
- Touch
- Feel
- Smell
- Taste of the fruit
- Science to test sugar levels
Sun Pacific introduced Vintage Sweets to meet the demands of consumers seeking high-quality produce willing to pay premium price. The company notes that retailer response has been exceptionally positive.
In line with Sun Pacific’s high-quality standards, it has also introduced enhanced packaging and merchandising for its Sun Pacific California Navel Oranges. Ensuring consistently large, sweet, seedless navels, they are available to retailers in four-, five-, and eight-pound bags that can be displayed in newly-designed, attractive bin merchandise displays, and in Euro Carton display-ready pallets.
As for Vintage Sweets, these are available in both bulk and 3-pound bags, as well as 6-count shrink-wrapped trays, with striking black-and-orange, vintage-look packaging.
With thousands of stores across the country carrying the fruit for the last two seasons, retailers are reporting remarkable consumer response. Keep checking in with AndNowUKnow for what this next year has in store for Vintage Sweets, California Navel Oranges, and more.
