Frieda’s Winter Citrus Delivers on Shoppers’ Needs and Retailer’s Sales Goals
February 5, 2026 | 4 min to read
Snackable, functional, affordable …Frieda’s specialty citrus lineup covers all the bases, including sales performance.
ANAHEIM, CALIF – Winter citrus season is here, and MarthaStewart.com is helping to keep citrus top of mind for consumers. Frieda’s Branded Produce is helping retailers to seize the moment with snackable, affordable citrus varietals that will delight shoppers.
Whether it’s the availability brought on by the winter season, a desire for immune-boosting foods rich in vitamin C, or healthier eating brought on by a “new year, new me,” winter is when consumer appetite for citrus is at its peak. Frieda’s winter citrus program delivers everything that shoppers want most right now, including easy snacking, everyday wellness and real value.
In a recent seasonal produce roundup for MarthaStewart.com, Frieda’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Alex Jackson, noted that “January is prime California citrus season,” with the best-tasting varieties showing up as winter settles in. Frieda’s program is proof. An impressive lineup of specialty citrus, including mandarinquats, limequats, calamondins, Tahitian pummelos, Meyer lemons and pink lemons are available now. Most recently back in season in the line-up are Lemonade Lemons and Popjoys® Kumquats.
Circana’s Fresh Produce Category report for 2026 indicates that the brands positioned to lead will innovate around convenience, health and affordability. Fresh fruit is expected to outpace overall produce growth, with high demand for snack-sized options and unique varieties.
Frieda’s winter citrus program enables retailers to design a practical set that’s tailored to how people are shopping this year:
Grab-and-go snacking: With sweet, edible rinds and tart, juicy flesh, Popjoys® kumquats, mandarinqauts, limequats and calamondins give shoppers a refreshing, portion-friendly citrus option for lunchboxes, desk snacks and quick cravings.
Extra zest for everyday eating: Meyer, pink and soon-to-arrive Lemonade lemons fit into cooking, baking and beverages. They also support post-New Year’s wellness routines with vitamin C, antioxidants and heart-healthy flavonoids.
Nature’s answer to the sour-tart-sweet trend: Consumers can’t get enough sour-tart-sweet candies, drinks and fruits like Frieda’s line of poppable quats. Consumer favorites like mandarinquats, limequats and Popjoys® kumquats demonstrate that “nature’s candy” will not be outdone.
Must-try cart stoppers that keep produce departments interesting: Tahitian pummelos bring size, a lemon-lime flavor with hints of melon, plus trial-driving novelty to winter citrus displays.
Calendars and Registers are Aligned.
Seasonal buzz is key, but Frieda’s winter citrus program is also backed by measurable brand performance.
Frieda’s Meyer lemons are outpacing growth in the total lemon category and leading branded Meyerlemon growth.1
Frieda’s citrus growth is ahead of category growth, year over year (YOY), with 9.4 percent unit growth compared to 6.2 percent for the category.2
Frieda’s Popjoys® are more than 15 percent less expensive than the next leading competitor based on price per unit, delivering strong value and keeping specialty citrus in reach to more customers.3
Source: Circana, Total U.S. multi-outlet (MULO), latest 52 weeks ending Dec. 28, 2025
¹Unit, volume and dollar sales, as applicable, ²Unit sales across the competitive set, including kumquats, Meyer lemons and limequats (all brands), ³Unit sales and average price per unit.
Sharpen Winter Citrus Performance with Frieda’s Branded Produce
With the winter citrus lineup from Frieda’s, retailers can build a set that is right for the season and right for the shoppers. Contact your Frieda’s sales representative today for availability information, assortment planning and merchandising support.
About Frieda’s Inc.
Frieda’s Branded Produce has inspired new food experiences for friends, families, and food lovers everywhere since 1962. From kiwifruit and dragon fruit to Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes and habanero peppers, Frieda’s has introduced more than two hundred unique fruits and vegetables to the U.S. marketplace. Founded by produce industry trailblazer Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, the subject of the 2015 documentary “Fear No Fruit,” the female-founded company is a subsidiary of Legacy Farms LLC, based in Anaheim, California. Find Frieda’s on Instagram, Threads, and Tiktok @FriedasProduce and Friedas.com. Inspire. Taste. Love.