National Sunkist Citrus Day puts spotlight on citrus fruit

Valencia, Calif.-based Sunkist Growers Inc. says March 1 will be the third observance of National Sunkist Citrus Day, a celebration of multigenerational, family-owned citrus farms.

The grower cooperative says National Sunkist Citrus Day, which recognizes growers who played a part in cultivating premium citrus for consumers nationwide for more than 100 years, is an opportunity for retailers to promote Sunkist citrus in weekly circulars and engage shoppers through social media using #NationalSunkistCitrusDay. National Sunkist Citrus Day aims to elevate the awareness of citrus in health, wellness and culinary enjoyment and drives traffic to produce departments through in-store activations, digital promotions and interactive shopper marketing experiences.

Sunkist Growers says it offers retailers new POS materials featuring National Sunkist Citrus Day header cards, clip cards and an interactive recipe generator to help shoppers explore creative citrus-infused meals.

March is the peak of in-season conventional and organic citrus including navel, blood and cara cara oranges, lemons, California mandarins, grapefruit and minneola tangelos.

“National Sunkist Citrus Day is more than a marketing initiative — it’s a tribute to the generations of hardworking growers who have dedicated their lives to nurturing the best citrus possible,” Cassie Howard, senior director of category management and marketing for Sunkist, said in a news release. “This day gives us a chance to reflect on our heritage while also showcasing the fresh, vibrant, in-season citrus that continues to delight consumers today.”