California grown Sumo Citrus is back in stores and will be available until April. Halfway through the season, growers are pleased with the way the season is progressing. “It has been an excellent growing season, but we haven’t had a winter at all,” says Keith Cosart, Sumo Citrus General Manager. “That mild weather is likely to be the biggest challenge this season as it could cause premature rind aging of citrus.” This could affect all citrus varieties, including Sumo Citrus.
For optimum citrus production, it is better to have some frosty nights and cool daytime temperatures. The frost that California growers experienced a couple weeks ago was a welcome change to the mild weather, but it didn’t last long as temperatures went back up soon.
Sumo Citrus is a unique citrus variety. “It’s enormous as it fills the palm of your hand and it is so easy to peel,” says Sunnia Gull, Sumo Citrus Director of Brand Management. The fruit is very delicate, difficult to grow and only a handful of California growers supply the US with this specialty item. Each piece of fruit is handled with care as it is hand-pruned and harvested in small totes instead of large bins. Because it is more expensive to grow than the average citrus variety, it also has a higher price point retailing at $3.99 per pound. “Once consumers have tried the seedless fruit and realize how incredibly sweet it is, they appreciate it and come back for a repeat purchase,” mentioned Gull.
Passion of a Sumo Citrus grower.
The fruit was first available in stores in 2011 and was nationally distributed in 2012. Today, it is available at main retailers as well as specialty stores throughout the United States.
For this season, Sumo Citrus launched a new brand identity. Gull explained, “It’s based on a lot of research that was done last year. We learned who our consumer was and what they thought about our product and brand. We saw an opportunity to elevate our identity to a premium and modern brand as that’s what our consumer was expecting from us.” The new brand has come to life across all major consumer touch-points, which include packaging, in-store demos, website, and social media. “We have received positive feedback from our customers and are excited to keep up the momentum through the season.”
For more information:
Suntreat Sales Team
AC Foods/Suntreat
Tel: 559-562-4988
www.sumocitrus.com