California Ag Network

Tag: Harry Overly

  • Sun-Maid Growers Evolve to Meet Consumers Where They are Today

    At the annual meeting of Sun-Maid Growers of California in downtown Fresno, grower members gathered for a nice brunch while listening to the cooperative’s leadership on the current performance of the iconic brand and how California raisins can continue to command a premium market share around the world.  Watch this video with Sun-Maid President Steve Loftus, and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.

  • Why Sun-Maid Growers Acquired Plum Organics

    When Sun-Maid Growers announced its acquisition of baby food brand Plum Organics in 2021, it came as a surprise to many.  Naturally, raisin growers wanted to know how this might benefit the California raisin industry, beyond simply growing and diversifying Sun-Maid’s portfolio.  Watch this brief interview with Sun-Maid Growers Executive Chairman Harry Overly as he explains.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.

  • Introducing the New President of Sun-Maid Growers

    Sun-Maid Growers of California has recently gone through some leadership changes, and at their annual meeting in December, growers were introduced to a new President of the cooperative, Steve Loftus. Watch this brief interview to get to know Steve and what he plans to bring to Sun-Maid.  Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • Sun-Maid Leadership Changes, Overly Takes New Role

    There have been rumors that Sun-Maid Growers’ CEO has left to take the position as CEO of another snacking food company.  Watch this video interview with outgoing CEO Harry Overly as he clarifies his position at Sun-Maid.  Read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • State of the California Raisin Industry with Sun-Maid

    The last few years have been quite challenging for California raisin growers.  Grower returns have been lower despite increasing input costs, but the tide appears to be changing to their favor as shared at Malcolm Media’s recent Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo. Watch this brief interview with Sun-Maid Growers’ CEO Harry Overly as he explains, and read more about it in the upcoming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
     
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • A Brand New Sun-Maid: Investing in the Future

    The dried fruit sector hasn’t been as popular with millennial consumers as in other generations, but Sun-Maid Growers are working to turn things around (at least for California raisins) with some new strategies and investments as shared at their annual meeting in Fresno recently.  Watch this brief interview with Sun-Maid CEO Harry Overly and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

     

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  • “Brand New” Sun-Maid Holds 107TH Annual Meeting

    Sun-Maid Growers of California held its 107th Annual membership meeting at the Convention Center’s “New Exhibit Hall” in Downtown Fresno this past weekend. The theme “It’s a Brand New Sun-Maid—And it’s not just Business as Usual” was evident throughout the event with a fresh approach to facing challenges in the industry and continuing company-wide transformation. More than 1,000 raisin growers, families and guests were in attendance.

    Sun-Maid President & CEO, Harry Overly laid out the company’s work during the past year to transform Sun-Maid, including an all-encompassing marketing campaign launched at the start of 2019.

    “Our marketing efforts appealed to today’s millennial mom in an extremely relevant way and as such, we increased Sun-Maid branded sales, household usage, and household penetration amongst this newly targeted demographic,” Overly said.

    In addition to covering marketing wins and highlighting new products, President Overly articulated a change in corporate strategy as well, with the aim to drive brand value and strengthen member returns via a multi-faceted approach.His plans include optimizing the company’s current core raisin business in addition to diversifying Sun-Maid’s product portfolio with exciting innovation and future acquisitions.

    Chairman Steve Kister provided a review of the 2019 crop, industry supply and demand, and future for raisin growers. Both Kister and Overly stressed Sun-Maid’s investment in the future and how the new strategy, while different from historical practices, will deliver for Sun-Maid growers.

    Founded in 1912, Sun-Maid is the world’s largest marketer of raisins and other premium quality dried fruits. Sun-Maid’s sales are approximately half retail consumer products and half ingredient products for items such as cereals, breads and a variety of other food products. Headquartered in Fresno, California, in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, Sun-Maid products are distributed throughout the United States and in more than 50 countries around the world.

  • Sun-Maid Marketing Plan to Increase Demand for California Raisins

    The California raisin industry maintains their reputation for producing the highest quality raisins in the world; however, they are no longer the highest yielding raisin community in the world.  The dynamics of raisin marketing also need to evolve with changing economic and consumer trends.  Sun-Maid CEO Harry Overly addressed this at their Annual Meeting and shared Sun-Maid’s plans to increase the demand for California raisins.  Watch this interview with Overly and read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

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  • How to Keep California Raisin Vineyards in the Ground

    Over the last couple years, Central Valley raisin growers have been receiving great prices for their crop; however, that hasn’t stopped the continual raisin grape vineyard pullouts going on. So what’s going to change the tide and bring more balance and longterm prosperity for this much needed industry in California? Check out this interview with Sun-Maid Chairman Jeff Jue and CEO Harry Overly to find out, and read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

    Enjoy our Ag video news?  Be sure to let our sponsor Duarte Nursery know & thank them for their industry support!

  • How the CA Raisin Industry will Stay Competitive with the World Market

    With record low raisin inventories in California this past year, record high imports of raisins flooded the US market. Foreign competitors also took larger shares of key export markets for the California raisin industry. With increasing production costs and declining raisin grape acreage, what can the California raisin industry do to remain competitive in the world market? Harry Overly answered this question at Sun-Maid’s 106th annual Meeting on Dec. 1st, and in this video interview with California Ag Network. Watch this brief interview and read the full report of Sun-Maid’s Annual Meeting in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

    Enjoy our Ag video news?  Be sure to let our sponsor Duarte Nursery know & thank them for their industry support!