VALENCIA, CA - Mark your calendars, because March 1 is bringing us an exciting celebratory opportunity! Sunkist Growers is celebrating its humble and longstanding California roots by officially registering Sunkist Citrus Day in the National Day Calendar™.

"In a recent study, we learned that citrus shoppers find value in knowing where their citrus is grown and how it is picked," said Christina Ward, Senior Director of Global Marketing. "We wanted to bring citrus shoppers to a California grove with 'Meet the Grower' POP (point of purchase) and interactive in-store displays. These materials educate shoppers on our growers' stories, the zesty lineup of Sunkist citrus, and our farming regions."

Sunkist Citrus Day celebrates the company's expansive legacy, which dates back to 1893. According to a press release, Sunkist's first advertisement was published in Des Moines, Iowa, in March 1908 to promote the California observance called "Orange Day."

"For years, March 1^st has been celebrated as 'Orange Day' in Southern California and the festivities embrace a period of one week," the ad read. "The orange offers unlimited possibilities in the daintiest of desserts. Their use is unlimited. Morning, noon, and night."

The officially recognized holiday pays tribute to more than 1,500 growers that make up Sunkist's membership and the nearly 40 fresh, premium citrus varieties in its portfolio.

In addition to Sunkist Citrus Day, the cooperative is also celebrating its legacy with a premium sweet Heirloom Navel orange program, available only during peak citrus season. For retail, new 3 lb and 4 lb giro bags and display masters are accompanied by matching square and quarter bins, the company noted, with a commemorative design that was consumer-tested and received an overwhelmingly positive response.

With Sunkist Citrus Day not far on the horizon, here are a few ways you can advise consumers to celebrate come March 1:

• Learn about the different varieties of citrus grown by Sunkist
• Buy Sunkist citrus to support the family of farmers that make up the cooperative
• Try a new recipe—inspiration can always be found on Sunkist.com/recipes
• Order a citrus-forward dish or drink at your favorite food joint
• Share your favorite citrus flavors or wellness tips using citrus and give Sunkist a shout-out on social media using #NationalSunkistCitrusDay

Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to get our hands on some Sunkist citrus for the celebration!

Sunkist Growers