Sunkist Acreage Increases with Porterville Citrus’ LoBue Acquisition

October 16, 2017, TERRA BELLA, CA — Porterville Citrus, a Sunkist affiliated citrus packer-shipper, has acquired LoBue Citrus’ packing operations. In the agreement, the LoBue family will continue to own and operate their family farms, consisting of 1,000 acres of citrus, extending their family’s heritage through the Sunkist cooperative.

“LoBue Citrus has a rich history in the industry, and we are pleased to be able to help them continue that legacy through our organization,” said Jim Phillips, President of Porterville Citrus. “The purchase also marks further growth for Porterville Citrus, positioning us for a strong season ahead.”

In the upcoming 2017-2018 season, Porterville Citrus will integrate the LoBue Citrus packing facility in Lindsay into their operations and also add a large portion of the organization’s grower network, increasing the Navel orange, mandarin, lemon and specialty acreage of Porterville Citrus and the Sunkist cooperative as a whole.

“It’s great to start the season by adding more high quality volume to our mix,” said Russ Hanlin, President & CEO of Sunkist Growers.

The Sunkist cooperative of family farms offers more than 40 fresh citrus varieties. With thousands of grower members in California and Arizona, the Sunkist cooperative reflects the values and legacy of its 125-year history: family-owned farms where traditional growing practices, stewardship of natural resources and a dedication to innovation are proudly passed through the generations. Founded under the principle that more can be accomplished by working together, Sunkist continues to promote a culture of family and collaboration with growers and customers to drive positive results for all.

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Sunkist Growers is a citrus marketing cooperative, founded in 1893, which is owned by and operated for thousands of family farmers growing citrus in California and Arizona. For more information, visit www.sunkist.com.

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