TERRA BELLA, CA — With thousands of grower members in California and Arizona, Sunkist welcomes a new family farm into its operations after Porterville Citrus, a Sunkist affiliated citrus packer-shipper, acquired LoBue Citrus’ packing operations. In the agreement, the LoBue family will continue to own and operate its 1,000 acre family farm, extending its family’s heritage through the Sunkist cooperative.

“LoBue Citrus has a rich history in the industry, and we are pleased to be able to help them continue that legacy through our organization,” said Jim Phillips, President of Porterville Citrus, in a press release. “The purchase also marks further growth for Porterville Citrus, positioning us for a strong season ahead.”

In the upcoming 2017-2018 season, Porterville Citrus will integrate the LoBue Citrus packing facility in Lindsay into its operations and also add a large portion of the organization’s grower network, increasing the Navel orange, mandarin, lemon, and specialty acreage of Porterville Citrus and the Sunkist cooperative as a whole.

“It’s great to start the season by adding more high-quality volume to our mix,” said Russ Hanlin, President & CEO of Sunkist Growers.

Commemorating 125 years of values and legacy, the Sunkist cooperative of family farms offers more than 40 fresh citrus varieties from thousands of family-owned farms where traditional growing practices, stewardship of natural resources, and a dedication to innovation are proudly passed through the generations. Founded under the principle that more can be accomplished by working together, Sunkist continues to promote a culture of family and collaboration with growers and customers to drive positive results for all.

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