One of California's leading agricultural concerns, Sun World International, LLC develops, grows and markets an extensive collection of special fruits and vegetables ranging from apricots to (seedless) watermelon. The Company operates one of the world's largest fruit breeding programs and has extensive farming and packing operations in southern and central California. An innovator in the rapidly changing agriculture industry, Sun World enjoys particular strength in farming and promoting unique produce varieties with improved flavor, size, color and seasonality.

Sun World was founded in 1976. Annual sales are about $110 million on approximately 12 million cartons of fresh produce.

The Company maintains administrative, research, farming, packing and marketing operations in Coachella and Bakersfield, California. It markets produce for dozens of growers throughout California and several other states, as well as in Mexico and Chile.

EMPLOYEES:

The Company has approximately 500 full-time employees. Seasonal employment peaks at about 7,500.

BOARD OF MANAGERS:

Allen J. Vangelos
Christopher W. Parker - Chairman
Stephen H. Deckoff
Robert V. Igleheart

Allen Vangelos - President, Chief Executive Officer
Dave Hostetter - Senior Vice President, Chief Administration Officer
David Fenn - Senior Vice President, Southern Table Grape and Packing Operations
David Marguleas - Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
Kevin Andrew - Senior Vice President, Chief Operations Officer
Mike Aiton - Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing

• SUN WORLD^ฎ brand sweet red and yellow peppers - introduced in 1983 and 1988, respectively.

• SUPERIOR SEEDLESS^ฎ brand table grape - A unique proprietary grape grown by Sun World and associated or licensed producers in California, Morocco, Spain, Italy, Australia, Israel, South Africa and Namibia.

• MIDNIGHT BEAUTY^ฎ brand table grape - Sun World's distinctive early-season proprietary black table grape, grown by licensed producers throughout the northern and southern hemispheres.

• SUN WORLD SEEDLESS^ฎ brand watermelon - A superior watermelon introduced nationally in 1988 after 50 years of research and development.

• BLACK DIAMOND^ฎ brand plum - The ultimate summer fruit with deliciously sweet flavor and brilliant red flesh.

• STAR SWEET^ฎ brand grapefruit - T super red California grapefruit which boasts extraordinary sweetness, and deep red interior color.

• SCARLOTTA SEEDLESS^ฎ  brand table grape – a late season red seedless grape.  Sugranineteen was introduced in 2005 after 7 years of research.  Characterized by its consistent large clusters with a crisp sweet flavor.

• SABLE SEEDLESS^ฎ brand table grape – a mid-season black seedless grape.  Sugrasixteen, introduced in 2003 medium to large size with a very sweet flavor and delicious Muscat aroma profile.  Grown in California and South Africa.

• HONEYCOT^ฎ brand apricot – an early season apricot with superior size and flavor characterized by its smooth orange skin and striking red blush. Introduced in 2004 grown in California.

• AMBER CREST^ฎ brand peaches – Sun World’s low chill varieties are a breakthrough in low chill fruit development as they are able to grow in areas where winters are considered too warm for stone fruit giving an advantage as early harvest treefruit. Consistent large round size with good eating quality.

 

 

• A leading U.S. grower and marketer of table grapes.

• A leading U.S. grower and marketer of fresh plums.

• A leading U.S. producer and marketer of seedless watermelon.

• A leading producer and marketer of sweet colored peppers.

• A leading U.S. marketer of specialty citrus (tangerines and mandarins) and a leading marketer of California grapefruit.

• World's largest seedless table grape and stonefruit breeding program.

 

Go to Research & Development factsheet

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Administration, Accounting, Human Relations, Sales, Operations, Purchasing:   P.O. Box 80298 (Zip: 93380) 16350 Driver Road Bakersfield, CA 93312 (661) 392-5000 telephone (661) 392-5092 facsimile

Administration, Sales and Marketing, Licensing, Operations:   P.O. Box 1028 52-200 Industrial Way Coachella, CA 92236 (760) 398-9300 telephone (760) 398-9413 facsimile