Sun Fresh International celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019 and the family-owned business is looking forward to exciting things ahead in 2020. The company’s import division distributes in the U.S. and parts of Canada, while its Sun Fresh Export division is responsible for exporting U.S. products outside of the U.S.
“Our primary commodity is grapes,” said Eric Blaylock, domestic sales manager for the Visalia, CA-based company. “We distribute grapes from Peru, Chile, Mexico and the U.S. on a year-round basis. In 2020, we are forecast to sell 1.5 million boxes of grapes in the domestic market.”
Sun Fresh is part of Vida Produce Co., which is headquartered in Santiago, Chile, and has distribution divisions throughout Central America and South America.
The company owns the rights to the Blanc Seedless variety, well-known by its trademark Pristine, grown outside of the United States. Ignacio Morales, business development manager, said Pristine is a premium late-season green grape known for its exceptional flavor, size and shelf life.
“One of the most important characteristics is its crunchiness, you will be surprised,” he said. “We currently have plantings in Chile, Peru, Australia, Spain and Italy. Sun Fresh is the only importer and distributor of the Pristine shipped to the U.S. from Chile and Peru.”
There are currently 300 hectares planted in Chile and plans in place to plant 200 additional hectares in the next two years. Morales noted projections are for 700,000 boxes to be harvested in Chile this year.
“The Pristine is grown by the best growers of the countries that we have presence in today. Our partner company in Chile, Polar Fruit International, is in charge of advising them with the best techniques to grow this variety,” Morales said. “The final result of the product in the box is exceptional, maintaining a consistency between different growers and origins in such a way that we deliver to the final consumer a great experience when tasting the variety.”
Chilean Pristine are available for U.S. distribution in late March, April, and early May.
“We really invite all retailers to bring this variety to their end customers; it has been a great success in every chain of the U.S. in which we have begun to distribute and also in several supermarkets in many other countries of the world,” Morales said. “It’s a great opportunity for customers to put the best green grape out there that’s available during that time period.”
While Chile in general is in a drought situation with some areas facing water issues, Sun Fresh is not currently faced with this issue on its Pristine farms and this year’s crops are looking great, he added.
“The Pristine growth and success can be attributed to its exceptional quality and flavor and gives Sun Fresh the unique opportunity of offering the best green grape available in the market during this time period,” Blaylock said. “We also have developed import programs with quality-oriented growers that allow us to offer high-quality, late-season red seedless, black seedless, and red globe grapes.”
