Wonderful Citrus is celebrating 75 years as a full-service citrus company. The company offers more than 10 varieties including mandarins, seedless lemons, lemons, navels, valencias, cara caras, grapefruit, limes, key limes, and minneolas. Additionally, it also has branded produce in its Wonderful Halos mandarins and Wonderful Seedless Lemons.
Originally founded in 1950 as Paramount Citrus, the company marketed and sold citrus for independent California citrus growers who were underserved by packing consolidators and brokers. In 1981, Lynda and Stewart Resnick acquired Paramount Citrus, and today, The Wonderful Company brands and markets pistachios, almonds, pomegranates, mandarins, and seedless lemons.
Zak Laffite
"As we celebrate 75 years, we are excited to continue leading the citrus category forward through innovation, quality, marketing, and sustainability," said Zak Laffite, president, Wonderful Citrus.
In celebration of this anniversary milestone, Wonderful Citrus is bringing back its original namesake brand, Paramount Citrus, as a primary label within its portfolio. Consumers can find the new label, including both packaged and stickered loose fruit, in produce departments across the country. Additionally, the company relaunched a newly revamped website featuring an enhanced user experience and a dedicated online grower portal.
The company believes its success is built around three pillars:
Cultivating people and partners: With hundreds of growing partners around the world, imports from seven countries, and nearly 7,500 employees, Wonderful Citrus believes in investing in its people and partners. It operates 10 packing house locations in various regions across the country, including its main operations in California, Texas, New Jersey, and Mexico. Its team of more than 200 in-store merchandisers works closely with retailers to leverage eye-catching branded packaging and high-graphic in-store point-of-sale displays in strategic locations throughout grocery stores to ensure continued growth and success.
The Wonderful Citrus Grower Symposium.
Best-in-class brands and fruit: The company offers nursery services, farming guidance, and state-of-the-art packing and juicing facilities while delivering sales and merchandising capabilities. It harvests over 74,000 acres of fresh citrus and ships it around the world each year to ensure a year-round supply. Additionally, its Wonderful Seedless Lemons are unique in the category as a non-GMO Project Verified, 100 percent naturally seedless lemons, accounting for 100 percent of bagged lemon category growth for three consecutive years.
A seedless lemon tree.
Value beyond our products: The company protects the environment through sustainable farming practices. It has taken measurable actions toward waste reduction, water stewardship, and carbon emissions tracking. 100 percent of its operations will be powered by renewable energy by the end of 2025. Additionally, Wonderful Citrus supports unique philanthropic efforts where its employees live and work. Its parent company, The Wonderful Company, and its owners have invested more than $2.5 billion in philanthropy and corporate social responsibility initiatives globally.
For more information:
Malia Madden
Wonderful Citrus
Malia.Madden@wonderful.com
www.wonderfulcitrus.com