FOWLER, CA - Ever see those videos of babies trying lemons for the first time? Amazing, right? If you haven’t, Google it. Those videos make me think about the uniqueness of citrus in all its forms. Here is a category that provides sweetness with a sharp, tart edge, that also happens to be an extremely versatile flavor. What was once a wintertime staple has blossomed into a year-round treat. I went to a citrus expert to learn more about the goings-on of this essential category.

“California’s domestic citrus is winding down and our team has hit the ground running with imports,” Monique Bienvenue, Director of Communications, told me. “Bee Sweet’s off-shore program can assure our customers that we have the citrus they need year-round, and there’s plenty of different varieties to go around.”

Monique informed me that Bee Sweet is currently harvesting a plethora of citrus—lemons, Valencia oranges, grapefruit, blood oranges, Meyer lemons, and organic lemons—out of the San Joaquin Valley and the California coast. The grower has seen smooth sailing on all fronts, enjoying favorable weather; good volume; and a steady market, demand, and prices. Sometimes an uptick in volume can lead to a decline in quality, but not so for Bee Sweet, Monique assured me.

“This season’s crop was much larger in terms of volume, so more work was put into ensuring high-quality standards,” she said. “We feel quality was good overall.”

More volume and high quality spell good news for consumers craving citrus, and with back-to-school season fast approaching, there are even more opportunities for growers and retailers to promote the category.

For more updates on the state of the fruit and veg market, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

Bee Sweet Citrus