Hronis Inc. has been best known for grapes since 1945. However, in the late 80s, the Hronis family decided to grow citrus to fill the gaps when they were not harvesting grapes. This allowed them to keep in contact with their customers year-round and provided more opportunities for sales. 
“Today, Hronis handles close to a million boxes of citrus per year,” said Jennifer LoBue, who works in sales at the Delano, CA-based company. “Our line of citrus includes Navel oranges, Cara Cara oranges, Blood oranges, Minneola Tangelos and Valencia oranges.”
The Hronis family is known throughout the industry for its integrity and quality product and they continue to grow in areas they see opportunity and change with the market demands.
“We have planted more of our specialty citrus to complement our Navel line during the winter and spring months,” LoBue said. “Small size Navels are trending this year, which means lots of opportunities for bagged fruit at the retail level. We have seen an increase in three-, four- and five-pound bags.”
Hronis recently completed a 40,000-square-foot addition to its cold storage facility, which includes an additional pre-cooler along with two storage rooms and a new pack room. This growth initiative is expected to help increase business in the years to come.
Dissecting the citrus business in 2018, the company saw decent numbers, but it wasn’t a year that has been historically strong. LoBue cites so many small sizes and so few of the larger sizes as contributing factors to this.
“It’s been an adjustment for us. Every year the crop changes due to Mother Nature and we adjust accordingly year after year,” she said. “The crop size is larger this year with smaller size structure. Our biggest challenge would be moving the small fruit sizes this year. We created a new eye-appealing bag that is helping us move more volume and keeping our inventory fresh.”
Hronis also released Hronis Family Farms bags this year, which come in 3-, 4- and 5-pound sizes. Company officials believe that’s going to help increase sales. Retailers can do their part by marketing winter citrus items better and making adjustments.
“I think every year is different and if the retailers can have some wiggle room in their specifications they can take advantage of some great deals,” LoBue said. “It will help the farmers move their crop more efficiently and help the consumers get great deals at the register.”
