VALENCIA, CA - Sunkist Growers is ready to take the Southern Innovations show floor, communicating a simple yet powerful message: 130 Years of Going with the Grove. Cassie Howard, Senior Director of Category Management and Marketing, sat down with me to discuss the supplier’s showcase.

“At the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Innovations, our in-season Sunkist citrus lineup extends to Valencia oranges—the official orange for juicing and the only United States-grown orange variety available during the summer months. We will also have our conventional lemons, Meyer lemons, and organic Valencias on display,” Cassie began telling me.

Through its enhanced category management program, Sunkist is able to directly engage with consumers on perfecting the in-store experience. By providing real-time insights, the supplier helps its retail partners make better business decisions customizable to their stores and unique situations.

“We are looking forward to getting together with buyers in person and learning more firsthand about the goals of their retailers and the needs of their customers, to better collaborate on ways to drive the citrus category for the season ahead,” Cassie continued. “Nothing replaces face-to-face interaction with our sales team, and we’re excited to share with customers our newly commissioned category studies and consumer insights as we gear up for the return of California orange season.”

While Sunkist has a robust citrus portfolio extending to nearly 40 different unique varieties, every one of its beloved citrus varieties has a story to tell, from the way it's grown/picked to how it's bought in stores and consumed at home.

“Our ability to monitor consumer behavior, collect a snapshot in time, and apply those insights into fact-based recommendations for our retail partners truly sets us apart within the citrus space as we’re able to tackle evolving consumer demands both in-store and online,” Cassie added. “As the longest-standing fresh citrus cooperative in the nation, we are excited for the opportunity to share how our over 1,000-grower members, robust conventional and organic portfolio, and holistic marketing and merchandising tools make Sunkist the go-to citrus supplier as we kick off the California orange season.”

Be sure to visit Sunkist at Southern Innovations in booth #518. We hope to see you there!

Sunkist Growers