Dinuba, California-based Sumo Citrus will harvest its largest crop to date for the upcoming 2023 season beginning in January, doubling the amount of fruit from the previous season. Customers will find the fruit at more stores than ever before with increased distribution across North America, including Canada.
Derived from satsuma, orange and mandarin citrus varieties, Sumo Citrus was cultivated in Japan in the 1970s. The fruit became known as the “dekopon” in Japan in reference to its top knot and made its way to California’s San Joaquin Valley where expert growers are able to cultivate it.
“The growth of the Sumo Citrus brand has completely surpassed our expectations,” said Sunnia Gull, director of marketing for Sumo Citrus. “We’re also fortunate to have enjoyed notable recognition this past year from trusted consumer media organizations like Good Housekeeping and The Kitchn. With all of this momentum, we’re excited for the 2023 season to begin.”
Now in its 13th season, Sumo Citrus will be landing in more fruit aisles than previous seasons with expanded distribution across the United States and Canada. It is recognizable in the fruit aisle due to its size, orange skin and top knot. Each individual fruit also has a large produce sticker sporting the brand’s orange and purple logo.
“We’re extremely excited about this year’s crop, not only in terms of its enormous volume but also its exceptional quality,” said Ron Steele, VP of sales for Sumo Citrus.
“We’re so thankful to our incredible growers who have so much pride in what they do. They work tirelessly year round ensuring that, at harvest time, every single individual piece of fruit meets our unusually high standards of sweetness, taste and texture. We’re pleased to bring this incredible product to more customers than ever.”
Sumo Citrus has 163 percent of the recommended daily amount of Vitamin C along with 3 grams of dietary fiber. The fruit is seedless and easy to peel, making it a no-mess snack for work, home or on-the-go quick snack.
The 2023 Sumo Citrus season begins in January and will run through April. The fruit will be available at retailers across North America sold individually, as well as in bulk bags to deliver the fruit in a convenient sharing format for families, sporting events and workplace snacking.
For more information, visit SumoCitrus.com.
