Valencia, Calif. – Brace yourselves, citrus fans! The 2nd annual National Sunkist Citrus Day is coming up on March 1st and the longest-standing fresh citrus cooperative is celebrating every bite with a culinary challenge and multi-variety display contest.
This winter, Sunkist Growers is not just bringing the sunshine to consumers’ tables, it’s making California-grown citrus the star through a game show-inspired digital series, ‘Sunkist Matchmakers.’ With consumers looking to creatively elevate their at-home meals, Sunkist is also revamping its website with a custom landing page that’s both informative and interactive. Explore the ‘Matchmaker’ feature, where shoppers can pair a Sunkist varietal with a surprise ingredient, sparking real-time recipe ideas that will have citrus fans rushing to their kitchens.
“Many shoppers see citrus as a stand-alone snack, juice, or simple garnish, limiting the potential ways to enjoy the fruit’s unique and refreshing flavors,” says Cassie Howard, Sr. Director of Category Management and Marketing at Sunkist Growers, Inc. “We want to shift the perception of citrus as a one-dimensional ingredient and showcase its remarkable ability to complement and transform a wide range of meals and occasions throughout significant shopper milestones.”
Sunkist has teamed up with food and lifestyle influencers to craft jaw-dropping dishes and eye-catching crafts, all starring our wide array of in-season citrus varietals. And for an extra twist of excitement, we’re throwing in a mystery ingredient to prove that the most unexpected pairings can create the most spectacular results. Episode one, titled ‘Kid’s Party’ will be airing on @SunkistCitrus on Instagram and TikTok this Thursday, February 22, with the remaining episodes ‘Date Night’ and ‘Meatless Mondays’ of the three-part series running through April.
In addition, Sunkist is thrilled to collaborate with retailers to generate in-store excitement for National Sunkist Citrus Day. As March 1 approaches, we invite retailers to participate in a Multi-Variety Display Contest that will pique consumer interest and help drive sales.
“According to Circana, season-to-date citrus is trending ahead of last year, outpacing total produce and total fruit,” adds Howard. “We want to build on that momentum, working with our retail partners to put together relevant bag programs and strategic bulk displays to continue growing the category this season.”
Sunkist in-season citrus offerings during the winter months extend to both conventional and organic Navels, Caras, Bloods, lemons, tangelos, California mandarins, and grapefruit. Displays can more than double sales, and Sunkist’s new grove bin wraps and classic blue quarter bins are the perfect solution for large bulk fruit offerings this season.
“Shoppers say the most useful information in-stores is knowing where citrus is grown & packed,” adds Howard. “We also have new grower bin headers that allow shoppers to meet the people behind the hard work that goes into growing the citrus they see in-stores.” Are you ready to zest up your meals and maximize your Sunkist Citrus? Follow @SunkistCitrus on Instagram and TikTok, and visit Sunkist.com for your daily intake of citrus inspiration! Make this winter the brightest and most flavorful yet, and contact your local Sunkist rep to learn more about the full display contest rules.
