Sunkist Growers has commemorated its 120th year with its third consecutive annual revenue of more than US$1bn.
The California-based cooperative cited packaging innovations, support for retail displays and effective marketing programs as contributing factors to its ongoing success.
Its annual meeting took place on 20 February. Members received payments of US$840m for 2012, up from US$803 million the previous year.
One of the seminal changes for Sunkist was the formation of a joint venture with juice processor Ventura Coastal to improve its juice business.
The success of this undertaking has given ongoing impetus for Sunkist to keep broadening its portfolio of products to benefit its consumers.
“Our growers, including myself, are expanding production of newer varieties consumers favour because we know it will continue to improve our sales success for years to come,” said Mark Gillette, Sunkist’s re-elected chairman of the board of directors and president of Sunkist-affiliated Gillette Citrus.
2012 also saw Sunkist launch an annual dividend programme for its growers, who are scheduled to receive their first distribution in March.
Sunkist Growers, originally founded in 1893, is a citrus marketing cooperative owned by and operated for an estimated 6,000 farmers growing citrus in California and Arizona.
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