Page 36 - February2019

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEE SWEET
MANDARINS: The Cute Little Fruit That Means Business
Growth of the easy-peelers has been staggering, and it’s still growing. BY BOB JOHNSON
Mandarins bring a bit of whimsy to the produce department with names such as Halos, Cuties, Dimples, Darlings and Delites.
But don’t let the cute names fool you because, when it comes to battling for market share, these delightful darlings with dimples are all business.
“Consumer demand for mandarins is skyrocketing, now representing more than 45 percent of the citrus category,” says Christina Ward, director of communications at Sunkist Growers, Valencia, CA. “Sunkist Delite mandarins, which launched last year, tripled in sales in its rst season, making it one of the leading brands in its category.”
36 / FEBRUARY 2019 / PRODUCE BUSINESS
e Delite variety, originally introduced by Orange Cove, CA.-based Mulholland Citrus as the rst California mandarin, continues to grow in popularity because “they’re a well- rounded snack: sweet, seedless, easy to peel and perfect for the on-the-go lifestyle,” says Ward. “Mandarins are packed with avor and vitamins, making them a fan favorite for people seeking healthy snack alternatives.”
U.S. mandarin consumption was less than 1.6 billion pounds in 2013-2014, grew to more than 1.9 billion pounds in just three years, and slumped to a little more than 1.7 billion pounds the next year as bad weather hurt California production, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics.
During the same four-year period, fresh
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUNKIST GROWERS