California Ag Network

Tag: Sun-Maid Growers

  • Nisei Farmers League Celebrates 50 Years, Honors 5 Growers

    It’s a golden year for the Nisei Farmers League, and its members recently enjoyed their 50 year anniversary celebration.  The celebratory dinner in Fresno featured this special video presentation that included reflections from some of the league’s membership on 50 years, as well as interviews with its Agriculturalist of the Year honorees.  Watch this special video, featuring the five Central Valley grape growers that were recognized during this milestone meeting, and 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.

  • CA Raisin Crop Update & Wildfire Impact

    With smoke-filled skies and ongoing wildfires in forested areas, one may wonder just how the California raisin industry may be impacted by all this.  As harvest continues through the pandemic year, what should we expect from the 2020 crop?  Watch this brief interview with Rick Stark from Sun-Maid growers to find out and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

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

  • California Raisins Featured on Business Insider Podcast

    California raisin growers are always asking, “When will the Dancing Raisins come back, or will they ever?” Although not currently part of the raisin market promotions, the Dancing Raisins have returned to the spotlight of mainstream media in a recent Business Insider podcast.  The 45-minute podcast known as Brought to You Byhighlights powerful brands and marketing strategies through the years and how they came to be.  East Coast Showrunner Sarah Wyman recently visited California and several raisin industry members to learn and share the following story of the Dancing Raisins and the raisin industry that created them.

    Wyman shares, “The 1980’s TV commercials for California raisins have been called some of the best ads ever made. The claymation raisins singing and dancing to Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” became a kids TV show, recorded an album that went platinum, launched a range of toys and costumes, and starred in an Emmy-winning Christmas special. But were they a success for the raisin industry? Or did the dancing California raisins cause more trouble than they were worth?” Listen to the podcast HERE.

  • Will Declining Raisin Grape Acreage Lead to Higher Raisin Prices?

    California raisin growers have been disappointed this year with the raisin market after coming off of record high raisin prices the year before.  Is this price volatility expected to last, and will the continued removal of raisin acreage impact future pricing? Watch this brief interview with Steve Kister, Chairman of Board with Sun-Maid Growers, and read more about it in the February issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

     

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support and tell them you saw them on California Ag Network.

  • 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.

     

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support and tell them you saw them on California Ag Network.

  • “NEW” SUN-MAID HOLDS 106th ANNUAL MEETING

    Sun-Maid Growers of California held its 106th Annual membership meeting at the Convention Center’s “New Exhibit Hall” in Downtown Fresno.  The theme “It’s A New Sun-Maid” was evident throughout the event with a newly created management team and marketing strategy.  The meeting was moved for the first time in over 30 years from the Saroyan Theater to accommodate Disney’s production of The Lion King. More than 1,000 raisin growers, families and guests were in attendance.
     
    Sun-Maid President & CEO, Harry Overly laid out the company’s transformational plans to reinvigorate Sun-Maid – the Timeless & Trusted brand – and revealed an all-encompassing marketing strategy to target today’s younger millennial parents.  Sun-Maid’s 2019 marketing efforts, set to launch in January, will include a national television and digital campaign in addition to a portfolio of new products.  President Overly went on further to describe Sun-Maid’s heavy emphasis on innovation and marketing, indicating nearly 40% of the company’s growth will come from new products. 
     
    “We’ve learned so much about the Sun-Maid brand over the past year talking to consumers. We intend to take those consumer insights and grow this business with exciting new products and a new marketing campaign that reminds all consumers of their strong emotional connection to Sun-Maid,” said Overly.
     
    President Overly also highlighted the strength of the association with net sales steady at $362 million in this past fiscal year, and reported that for the 32nd consecutive year, Sun-Maid member payments will exceed the established industry field price. 
     
    Chairman Jeff Jue provided a review of this year’s growing conditions.  He also addressed the current outlook of the raisin industry, which has seen an increase in the 2018 crop size of more than 10% and deliveries exceeding 2017 by 22%.  With this larger crop, both Jue and Overly confirmed the California crop will be easily cover today’s demands.  However, Overly indicated cautious guidance in regards to worldwide raisin demand trends and the impact of emerging foreign competitors.  Overly reviewed weakening US shipment trends and the potential influence on California raisin pricing.
     
    Founded in 1912, Sun-Maid Growers 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. Located in Kingsburg, California in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley’s raisin producing district, Sun-Maid products are distributed throughout the United States and in more than 50 countries around the world.
     
    For more information about Sun-Maid, visit www.sunmaid.com.

  • Complying with Heat Illness Prevention Regulations on the Farm

    Temperatures are finally cooling down a bit, but it’s important to remember that as temperatures rise above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (day or night), there are laws and regulations growers and farm labor contractors must abide by as farm employees labor out in the vineyard.  This was shared by Jack Passarella from The Zenith at a recent Sun-Maid grower grower meeting in Selma.  Watch this brief video with Jack, and read more about heat illness prevention Here.

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

  • Smoke from Wildfires Slows CA Raisin Grape Maturity

    Although most folks in the Central Valley of California have been safe from the ravaging wildfires around California, they have still suffered the affects that the ash and smoke have brought into the Valley.  It has caused airline flight delays due to obscured vision and increased allergies & asthma among the public; but what some raisin growers have been discovering is that it has also delayed the sugar accumulation of their crop.  Watch this brief interview with Rick Stark from Sun-Maid Growers, and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

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

  • CA Compliance Bucket Inventory Checklist for Growers

    With ongoing changes in California pesticide laws and regulations, growers should be prepared with the right tools and resources, especially if County Ag inspector pays you a surprise farm visit.  That is why Amanda Zito and Alya Wakeman-Hill from the Fresno County Department of Agriculture provided growers with a bucket inventory checklist regarding pesticide applications at a Sun-Maid Growers meeting in Selma this morning.

    Here is what is required:

    -Emergency Medical Care Posting (Outside)

    -Soap

    -3+ Gallons of Water

    -Single-use Towels

    -Clean Coveralls

    -Chemical Resistant Gloves

    -Eye Protection

    -Labels for Chemicals being Applied

    Highly Recommended:

    -Eyewash

    -Extra N95 Respirators

    -Chemical Resistant Apron

    Remember, it is always better to be safe than sorry!