Bakersfield, Calif. – Sun World International LLC has appointed two leaders in Central and South American agriculture, Camposol S.A. of Peru and Grupo Alta of Sonora Mexico, as grape producer-marketer licensees.
Both companies have been granted rights to produce Sun World grape varieties in their respective countries, to distribute and market their fruit and to use Sun World’s brands in the marketplace, Sun World Executive Vice President David Marguleas said.
Grupo Alta was established in 1989 by its original founders, Enrique Camou, Carlos Bon and Alan Aguirre, its current CEO. Located in the state of Sonora, Mexico, Grupo Alta farms several products in seven different ranches, mainly stone fruit, melons, pecan, hot house vegetables and most important, table grapes. It prides itself on its commitment to innovation, food safety, ethical standards and packing quality.
Camposol was founded in Peru in 1997 and today owns more than 25,000 hectares (61,000 acres) throughout Peru’s agricultural regions. It is the world’s largest asparagus exporter, one of the world’s largest avocado producers and a leading grape producer-exporter. Its grape operation is managed by Manzur Fegale, fruit division general manager.
“Grupo Alta’s specific attention to producing and marketing quality fruit makes them a compelling partner and a great addition to the Sun World licensing family,” Marguleas noted, adding that “Camposol’s broad-based involvement in the Peruvian fruit industry and its singular commitment to grape production in Peru’s Piura region will bring even greater strength to our aim for truly year-round supply capability.”
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 Camposol and Grupo Alta, 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); Peru (Agricola Don Ricardo) and in Brazil (COANA, Expofruit, 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