Sun World Names New Grape Marketer Licensees In Italy & Chile

Bakersfield, Calif. – Sun World International, LLC has appointed three new grape marketer licensees – Giuliano Puglia Fruit of Puglia, Italy, Exportadora Santa Elena S.A. of Colina, Chile and GESEX S.A. of Buin, Chile – to distribute the California company’s licensed grapes.

The appointments bring Sun World’s total marketer network to 32 top grape companies and 22 leading stonefruit companies in 12 countries.

Giuliano Puglia Fruit is owned by Nicola, Giovani and Vito Giuliano and is located in Turi, in southern Italy’s Puglia region where the Giuliano family produces table grapes, stonefruit and citrus that is marketed to leading supermarket customers throughout Europe.

GESEX, one of Chile’s leading exporters, was formed in 1998 by a group of producers focused on delivering high quality fruit to demanding customers throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Its commercial team, under the direction of Juan Gabriel Perez and with sales offices in some of its overseas markets, packs and exports grapes, citrus, stonefruit from throughout Chile’s main fruit producing regions and is planning similar capability from Peru.

Santa Elena is an exclusive grower exporter focused on producing table grapes in Chile’s Central and Southern regions with special focus on direct service to retailer, in particular high end markets in the United Kingdom, U.S. and Canada. It was founded in the early 1980s and its owners today farm 800 hectares (325 acres).

In addition to distributing fruit from new seedless grape varieties developed by Sun World, all three companies have been given licenses to use Sun World’s brands, including MIDNIGHT BEAUTY®, SCARLOTTA SEEDLESS® and SABLE SEEDLESS® in the marketplace, Sun World Executive Vice President David Marguleas said.

“The distribution of Sun World’s grape varieties will reach even further and visibility of our most prominent brands will become stronger with the involvement and expertise of these leading Chilean and Italian fruit grower-marketers,” Marguleas added.

Sun World's fruit licensing program involves more than 1,000 producers and marketing companies in most of the world's major fruit-­growing regions. In addition to the appointment of Giuliano Puglia Fruit, Santa Elena and GESEX, Sun World has licensed grape marketers in Italy (Peviani, DiDonna and Apofruit); Portugal (Vale de Rosa); Israel (TALI Grapes); Chile (Dole Chile, Unifrutti, Subsole and Frutera Santa Maria); Australia (Perfection Fresh, Grape Exchange and Fresh Produce Group-­W.A.) South Africa (Capespan, The Grape Co., Dole South Africa, Green Marketing, Suiderland/New Vision and Freshworld); Spain (El Ciruelo and MOYCA); Peru (Agricola Don Ricardo and Camposol; Mexico (Grupo Alta) and in Brazil (COANA, Expofruit, Katope and Special Fruit).

Its new variety development work focuses on a full range of fresh grapes with extraordinary characteristics such as enhanced flavor, distinctive taste, larger berries and clusters, earlier and later ripening times and availability, and increased productivity. The California company also develops new plums, peaches, apricots and nectarines.

Sun World, a longstanding U.S.-­based producer and marketer of fresh fruit, operates one of the world's largest table grape and stonefruit breeding programs. Since its inception in the mid-­1970s, the Company's Variety Development Center has released countless varieties with improved flavor, size, color, shelf-­life and extended seasonality. In addition to production on its own California properties, Sun World and/or its licensees grow these proprietary varieties in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe, South America, Israel and South Africa.

Sun World is a leading innovator in the research, production, distribution and promotion of fresh produce. The Company maintains integrated agricultural operations throughout central and southeastern California. More information about Sun World is available at www.Sun-World.com.

Source: Sun World International, LLC