California Ag Network

Tag: Sunmaid raisins

  • 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.

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  • Sun Maid Rationale Behind Opting out of the Raisin Bargaining Association

    Sun-Maid made a big decision this year to opt out of the Raisin Bargaining Association’s negotiated field price for the first time ever.  While growers were excited about receiving the highest price ever for their raisins, Sun-Maid representatives felt the price was too high under current circumstances in the world raisin market.  Watch this interview with Sun-Maid Chairman Jeff Jue, as he shares their stance on the raisin market and what this means for the industry moving forward.  Read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

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  • 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!

  • “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.