LOS ANGELES, CA - Time is ticking down on the upcoming Organic Produce Summit (OPS) in Monterey, California, on July 12–13, and Sunkist is more than ready for the event. It’s all about summer for the citrus cooperative as it prepares to showcase its seasonal citrus. To get more details, Trent Bishop, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, sat down to share.
“While Sunkist offers a robust, year-round portfolio of organic citrus offerings, this time of year, we are all about our summer citrus, focusing on our organic lemon and Valencia orange crops,” says Trent. “Sunkist has been a proud provider of USDA-certified organic citrus for two decades, and at OPS this year, our distinctive packaging, category insights, and customizable market support will be at the forefront.”
For Sunkist, the goal is to be a one-stop shop for its retail partners, providing a consistent, year-round supply of organic oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and Mandarins. As consumer interest and demand continue to increase for organic citrus, the supplier is showing its commitment to the category by naming Christine Toy as its Director of Organic Business Development.
Despite the growth of organic sales this season slowing compared to prior years, Sunkist expects the category to remain competitive. Especially as 25 percent of consumers say they always purchase organic citrus, allowing the cooperative to expand on the trend.
Another development that Sunkist is honing in on is shoppers’ desire to know where their food comes from before purchasing.
“With consumers more interested in food origin and traceability than ever before, OPS allows Sunkist to connect with buyers in person and show how our innovative shopper programs can support organic citrus sales,” Trent explains. “Sunkist has a variety of tools available to help drive organic consumption, including new and interactive Meet the Grower merchandising with QR codes educating organic shoppers on the cooperative history, our multigenerational grower stories, and where/how their fruit is picked to support consumer demand.”
Sunkist also has easily recognizable, organic-themed packaging and matching display bins that feature the brand’s California heritage and iconic, retro Sunkist lollipop logo.
The supplier also has a robust organic portfolio to meet any retailer’s needs. Sunkist currently offers bulk and bag items across the citrus category, including organic display masters; full cartons; 1 lb net pouch bags for lemons; and 3 lb, 4 lb, and 8 lb Valencia orange combo bags.
Get the lowdown on Sunkist’s organic program in person at booth #702 on the OPS show floor.
