Sun World Appoints Agricola Don Ricardo As First Peruvian Grape Producer-Marketer Licensee

Bakersfield, Calif. – Sun World has appointed Peruvian grape specialist Agricola Don Ricardo (ADR) as its first grape producer-marketer licensee in the Andean nation.

ADR was founded in 1996 by Ricardo Briceno and Rafael Ibarguren. It is managed by Rafael Ibarguren as the Operations Manager and Alejandro Fuentes as the Commercial and Admin Manager The company produces a wide range of grapes in Peru’s Ica Valley and is a leading Peruvian producer-exporter supplying clients in the United Kingdom, Europe, United States and Asia.

“Our new Peruvian partner will be an excellent addition to the Sun World licensee network,” Sun World International Licensing Vice President Johan Jooste said. “I am confident that ADR’s professionalism and commitment to quality grape production and distribution will complement well our other southern hemisphere licensees in particular,” he 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 ADR, 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 and Grape Exchange) South Africa (Capespan, The Grape Co., Dole South Africa, Green Marketing and Suiderland/New Vision); Spain (El Ciruelo and  MOYCA); and in Brazil (COANA, 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 for its own production and for other growers to produce under license.

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