California’s domestic citrus season kicks off mid-October as its import season comes to an end with the last of Chilean navels and mandarins. “The Chilean season was very successful; similar to last season,” says Monique Bienvenue with Bee Sweet Citrus. “We were very happy with it; the eating quality of the fruit was good and the volume of citrus we received was consistent with previous seasons. We were fortunate.”
Bee Sweet’s three growing districts (Central Coast, Central Valley and Southern California) produce mandarins, lemons and oranges year-round, and specialty varieties like Cara Cara Navels, Blood Oranges, Pummelos, Melo Gold Grapefruit, Gold Nugget mandarins, Minneolas, and Meyer lemons. “Citrus has become a year-round stable for many households because of its versatility,” says Bienvenue. “Mandarins are a perfect on-the-go snack, and seasonal citrus like Cara Cara Navels and Meyer Lemons really cater to foodies and bloggers.”
Bee Sweet Citrus will also be a first-time exhibitor at PMA’s Fresh Summit event in October. “We’ve been a member for several years, and we’re excited to bring everything together to showcase,” she says. “A lot of our partners will be there, and we’re excited to network to them.”
Their #EatMoreCitrus campaign will also take a new turn, focused primarily on marketing their specialty varieties. Starting in October, each month of Bee Sweet’s domestic season will highlight uses for specialty citrus on its social media platforms. “We feel that consumers are familiar with mandarins, oranges and lemons; but when it comes to the more exotic varieties, they’re still learning about it and we want to showcase its unique qualities.”
Visit Bee Sweet at booth 4533 at the PMA Fresh Summit.
For more information:
Monique Bienvenue
Bee Sweet
Ph: 559-834-5345