The citrus category is not merely a section of the produce department or even the overall grocery store. It is its own little world brimming with bright colors, opportunities, new usage ideas, highly coveted immunity benefits, and so much more. Retailers and foodservice operators have the chance to capitalize on citrus demand year-round, and the winter months are no different, which sparks the question: How will you satisfy citrus-loving consumers over these next few months?
Before packing a backpack, picking up your map, and journeying into the wonderful world of lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, and beyond, consider taking a few tips from these category experts themselves…
“Fall is here, and so are our amazing citrus varieties! This year, the Bee Sweet Citrus team is pleased to introduce our new and improved premium citrus line to customers. With options that include our Royal Red oranges, Pummelos, and Golden Gem™ grapefruit, there’s no better time to incorporate citrus into your menus than now. Not only do our varieties beautifully complement the flavors of traditional holiday cuisine, they’re also available in newly designed packaging that is sure to catch the eye of shoppers at the store level! With numerous promotional periods right around the corner, we encourage our customers to learn how our varieties and accompanying point-of-sale material can help them market the citrus category.”
“There is a growing consumer association between citrus and health, wellness, and fitness. The category appeals to a wide range of shoppers, from home chefs who seek unique varieties to add to their recipes to active families looking for easy, healthy snack options. At Giumarra, we offer year-round availability of both domestic and imported citrus. Lemons and Mandarins are key categories for us. We also provide other popular varieties, including Cara Caras, Minneola Tangelos, Valencias, grapefruit, and Blood oranges. We can customize pack sizes and support private-label packaging in the citrus category. Our Bright Bites branded Mandarin program offers tailored marketing and merchandising services, including in-store display set-up and reorder monitoring with the support of our merchandising partners. The easy-to-peel Mandarin category shows no signs of stopping due to its snack-sized convenience and sweet, juicy flavor. We recommend retailers continue to promote heavily to maintain the momentum, and we are happy to assist with point-of-sale (POS) materials.”
“At Sunkist, winter means CITRUS. Everyone around our office, packinghouses, and fields is geared up to welcome back the classic California Navel and other in-season favorites, including specialties and easy-peelers. We love nothing more than bringing that energy to our customers and their respective shoppers. This year, we’re excited to showcase our new merchandising and interactive point-of-sale (POS) materials for our extensive citrus portfolio, which will drive engagement and interest in the category. From bin headers and wraps to secondary display bins, Sunkist’s customizable toolkit is ready to show retailers that we’re stronger together—collaborating in real-time to build the best programs to reach shoppers.”
“Shoppers will be looking for comforting and oftentimes sweet options to use when hosting or celebrating family gatherings and holidays. Thoughtful merchandising showcasing many varieties in a colorful display along with usage tips beyond the obvious snacking suggestion can inspire larger rings at registers. Based on our analytics and input from our shopper community, we expect people will be seeking information about citrus selection tips and nutrition facts, along with baking and serving suggestions when entertaining. In the winter months, the terms ‘nutrition’ and ‘cooking’ are used more often when searching for citrus content as opposed to the summer months when ‘snacking’ is a key search term. The great news for our retail customers, their shoppers, and LGS Specialty Sales is: Citrus is a beloved and demanded category all year with variations in motivation, which we can use to sell more citrus!”
“Last domestic season, the citrus category outpaced total produce by three times. A big part of this success was driven by Mandarins, which increased overall sales dollars by more than 8 percent, compared to just 2.8 percent for total produce. The momentum we’re seeing in stores can translate directly into momentum in your sales. Let’s keep the excitement going—build those big, eye-catching displays, keep citrus front and center in your ad promotions, and let’s work together to make this season our best one yet.”
“I’m thrilled about the upcoming citrus season, particularly as we continue to witness the profound impact of over 130 years of sustainable farming practices. This season, we anticipate not just a strong harvest but also exceptional fruit quality. By prioritizing the fundamentals and ensuring the basics are always executed exceptionally well first, we have enabled ourselves to be innovative and forward-thinking. Limoneira’s approach to regenerative agricultural practices empowers us to embrace autonomy and advancements in ag technologies and refine and implement robust integrated pest management programs. It also allows us to expand our multi-species cover crop acreage, on-site production, and utilization of organic and biological soil amendments. By adopting a highly granular approach to large-scale precision farming, we remain proud stewards of the land, ensuring that we not only minimize our ecological footprint but also enhance the vitality and resilience of Limoneira’s soils for future generations. Our focus on sustainability is central to our mission and positions us to successfully navigate the complexities of growing Climate Smart Lemons™ in ever-changing weather and market conditions.”
“Lone Star Citrus Growers is looking forward to another delicious Texas citrus season. Grapefruit fans know Texas produces some of the sweetest and juiciest grapefruit available. Because our season is limited to November–April, those in the know eagerly await its arrival each year, elevating it from just another item on the grocery list to a specialty product and tradition. While Texas grapefruit holds a firm place on the breakfast table, consumers are seeking new and fun ways to use it. They have found that adding it to the savory dishes of the season provides a burst of flavor at the dinner table, and it has certainly earned its place as a staple among holiday party cocktail menus. Cross-promotions with juicers, zesters, champagne, and even fun glassware provide an additional opportunity to capitalize on the holiday season’s festivities.” 
