Sunkist Growers Issues Billion-Dollar Member Payments for Third Consecutive Year

March 1, 2017, Valencia, California—Sunkist Growers held the cooperative’s 123^rd annual meeting on February 22, seating the organization’s 28-member Board of Directors for the upcoming year and summarizing 2016 performance.

“We were faced with the challenge of one of the largest Navel orange crops in history, and larger than normal harvests across many of the other varieties we handle,” said Sunkist President and CEO Russell Hanlin. “We responded well, moving an additional 3.5 million cartons into the fresh market generating revenue to support over $1 billion in member payments for the third time in the company’s history.”

Positive results align with Sunkist’s board leadership and management’s continued focus on advancing the cooperative to best serve its membership. Corporate leadership changes, aggressive sales strategies and advancement of Sunkist’s for-profit businesses in 2016 bolstered positive revenue streams and well position the organization for future growth.

Gerald Denni was re-elected as chairman of Sunkist’s Board of Directors during the meeting. “Working hand in hand with management, the board is pleased with the way we managed a very large crop in 2016, but we are now keenly focused on current industry challenges and building a stronger Sunkist for the future,” said Denni.

Founded in 1893, the Sunkist cooperative of family farms offers more than 40 fresh citrus varieties and remains a brand that has been trusted by customers and consumers for over a century. With thousands of grower members in California and Arizona, the Sunkist cooperative reflects the values and legacy of its over 120-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 beneficial results for all. Sunkist offers a full range of cartons, bags, display masters, bins and reusable plastic containers (RPCs) which have been designed with customers’ needs in mind. The company provides customer-specific creative marketing and promotional support to retail and foodservice trade designed to build consumer excitement, demand and sales.

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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.

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