Visalia Citrus Packing Group acquired

SANGER, CA - Kings River Packing’s California citrus season is only months away, and anticipation is mounting. As such, the company is proactively adding resources to increase capacity and provide dedicated resources to expand service to customers. The most recent additions include acquiring Visalia Citrus Packing Group’s (VCPG) packing facilities

Steve Cutting also touched on this advantageous move.

 “This day opens a new chapter for VCPG. We are very excited to be associated with the Kings River family and the opportunities that it brings us,” Cutting, President of Visalia Citrus Packing Group, commented in the press release.

More packing facilities leave Sunkist Growers Inc.

Visalia Citrus Packing Group, Inc. has been in the citrus growing and commercial packing business for almost 80 years. During that time the organization’s operations have expanded to include two major citrus packinghouse operations and ownership of approximately 820 acres of citrus orchards. The company provides a broad range of services to citrus growers, including custom farming, citrus production support, harvesting and hauling, processing, packing, and shipping. Since inception, all citrus fruit handled by VCPG has been marketed through Sunkist Growers, Inc.

Thoughts

As of July 2023, Gillette Citrus is no longer a packer with Sunkist Growers Inc.  "Because of lackluster sales, and no faith in the current Sunkist management team, we have decided to make a move and consolidate our fruit with Cobblestone Packing in Sanger California", said Mark Gillette, President of Gillette Citrus Inc. and Chairman Emeritus of Sunkist Growers Inc.

" Sunkist was once the premier shipper of fresh citrus but I believe that they have been passed up by compeitors over the past years", said Mark. "As Sunkist needed to manage the fruit from multiple packinghouses where they have little control of the quality or consistency and Sunkist has based sales on a prorated basis amongst the packers, there was no longer a place for a packer that put an emphasis on quality and customer service. The Sunkist brand use to be well known but now it is mainly known as a soda brand through their licensing of their name for Sunkist soda. Sunkist has also lost much of their luster in the export market".

Cobblestone Packing is building a state of the art citrus Packing facility and their fruit will be sold through Kings River Sales, a leader in citrus sales and an 8 generation farming family. Kings River recognizes the need for consistent quality and amazing customer service.  

Gillette Citrus Inc., with fruit farmed by brothers Jay and Mark look forward to a long and successful relationship with Cobblestone Packing

A new beginning

Jay and Mark Gillette are happy to announce a significant change to our packing operations. As of the end of this summer citrus season, Gillette Citrus Inc. will cease operations, as we have been purchased by Kings River Packing in Sanger California.  Jay and Mark will continue to farm oranges, lemons and mandarins and they will now be packing their family fruit with Kings River. Please see press release below.

 NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 13, 2023

Kings River Packing Expands for the Future

SANGER, CA, June 13, 2023 – Kings River Packing is making strategic investments to continue its legacy as a leading supplier of citrus for future generations. A new corporate headquarters is opening in July, making space for additional personnel. During the past season, in-house marketing was expanded to provide tailored resources for retail partners, while also inviting consumers to be part of the Kings River family through its social channels. In addition, Joel Yeary, Martin Garcia, Alex Marriott, and Seth Nordell joined the sales team to maintain the high level of service that Kings River Packing is known for as business grows.

“I am happy to be a part of such a dynamic company with deep roots and prominence in the citrus industry. Their commitment to their employees and retail partners is truly unique and I am excited for the plans ahead.” – Joel Yeary, Sales Account Representative.

Plans that include the recent acquisition of Gillette Citrus, Inc. This expansion of the Kings River Packing portfolio brings together two family run companies with a rich history and reputation for delivering quality citrus. The Gillette family has been farming in the San Joaquin Valley since the 1970s and has grown to be a leader in both domestic and export citrus. “It gives us satisfaction knowing the legacy we have built will continue through the Kings River Packing family.” says Mark Gillette, Former Co-Owner of Gillette Citrus.

This acquisition comes as the families of Kings River Packing undergo construction of a new 225,000 sqft state- of-the-art packing facility, expected to be completed in time for the upcoming season. “Proactive planning and investment are necessary for us to stay competitive and ensure the legacy can continue from one generation to the next. Many of the plans have been years in the making and it is awesome to finally see them come to life.” - Bobby Hines, Director of Sales/Family Owner of Kings River Packing.

Strategic investments to increase supply and sales resources allow Kings River Packing to provide year-round supply at scale for retail partners looking to reduce complexity and build long-term partnerships. Kings River is committed to investing in these areas that strengthen our partnerships, now and for years to come.

Gillette Citrus, Inc:

The Gillette Family began farming citrus in Southern California in the late 1800’s. In the early 1960’s, with the housing boom on the horizon, the family began farming citrus in the San Joaquin Valley, eventually relocating their operations to the region in the late 1970’s. In 1983, the idea to vertically integrate became a reality with the formation of Gillette Citrus, a packing facility that would enable greater control on all aspects of growing, packing and shipping. Three years later Gillette Citrus joined Sunkist Growers Inc. as a licensed packer to help take their brands around the world. Today, Gillette Citrus operates two packing facilities and handles over 100 million pounds of fresh citrus per year.

   

Kings River Packing:

Kings River Packing, Inc. is a family-owned business that has been growing citrus for over 8 generations. Located in the San Joaquin Valley of California, our company is proud to be a grower, packer, and shipper of quality citrus where the founding family still oversees operations across departments. Learn more about our story at www.kingorange.com or follow @KingsRiverPacking on Instagram.

Press Contact:

Michelle Alo

Director of Marketing 559-360-0402 michelle@kingorange.com

   

Sunkist and Whistle Pig

Recently we had the pleasure of hosting Sunkist and WhistlePig, along with media and influencers, to celebrate the launch of WhistlePig’s Orange Old Fashioned featuring Sunkist barrel-aged oranges and orange essence. Sunkist and Whistle Pig have teamed up to create this ready to drink cocktail, both in an alcohol and non-alcohol version, to support sober January with the proceeds going to support those in the service business.  Sunkist has always touted farm to table and now they are grove to garnish as well.

On the first day of the media tour, Mark and his daughter Melissa took the group of 20 into the field and gave them a tour of the grove and some insight in to what our farming culture looks like today. Everyone practiced picking oranges, binning them out and tasted the different varieties available. The next morning what was supposed to be a brunch in the grove turned into a brunch on Mark’s back patio as we are experiencing a very welcome rainy season. The group squeezed in, huddled under blankets and enjoyed an amazing array of orange and whisky inspired dishes, pastries and drinks. Afterwards we headed to the packinghouse for a tour. It’s always fun to see how captivated everyone gets watching the oranges whiz by. We become so used to the view it’s nice to see it through someone else’s eyes, a new appreciation for our beautiful oranges that we all love.

Our thanks for those that came from all over the U.S to attend and for their wonderful posts on social media sharing their adventures.