David Marguleas

Executive Vice President

David is responsible for managing Sun World’s licensing and variety development programs as well as the company’s sourcing functions and packing/cold storage facilities. Ultimately, developing and delivering better fruit is the crux of David’s responsibilities. His lifelong history with Sun World has more than qualified him for such an important task. 

Johan Jooste

Vice President of International Licensing

Jesse Calderon

Intellectual Properties Manager

In 2007, Jesse entered Sun World as a coordinator in the licensing department. Thanks to her hard work, she was promoted to manager just two short years later. She now supervises the company’s plant patent and trademark portfolio, as well as facilitates the distribution of stonefruit and grape varieties to international sites. She is also a member of the International Trademark Association. With so much career success in such a short time span, it’s no surprise that Jesse graduated at the top of her class at California State University, San Bernardino.

Dirk Burger

Licensing Manager, South Africa

Discovering new markets and finding new rich soils upon which to grow delicious Sun World produce is the job of Dirk Burger. He is responsible for implementing and maintaining Sun World’s variety distribution model in South Africa. Dirk has spent years researching dried fruit and table grapes in South Africa, publishing his findings in various journals. He is also highly involved with industry organizations. He’s a board member of the South African Society of Enology and Viticulture, a member of the Deciduous Fruit Producers Trust (DFPT) Peer Work group that co-ordinates table grapes research projects, and event chair of CANSA Relay for Life. In 2002, he was awarded Researcher of the Year by the Deciduous Fruit Producers Trust.

Dirk considers the perfect Sun World snack to be MIDNIGHT BEAUTY® brand grapes paired with blue cheese. The contrast of the sweet and the salt is phenomenal.

PUBLICATIONS:


BURGER, D.A. (2002).  Update on research being conducted on browning in cold stored ‘Majestic’ table grapes.   www.dfptresearch.co.za.
BURGER, D.A. (2003).  Determination of the efficacy of selected carry bags to be used for table grapes exported to UK supermarkets.  SA Fruit Journal Vol. 1, Part 4, p. 30-35.
BURGER, D.A. (2003).  Update on trial testing new resealable carry bags for table grapes exported to UK supermarkets.  SA Fruit Journal Vol. 2, Part 3, p.12-13.
BURGER, D.A. (2003).  Onegalige korrels gesystap.  Landbouweekblad, no.13, p.26-27 (Afrikaans only).
BURGER, D.A. (2004).  Factors that may influence Red Globe’s susceptibility to SO2 damage.  SA Fruit Journal Vol. 2, Part 6, p.10-11.
BURGER, D.A. (2004).  Saktipe en oesrypheid kan druiwe verbruin.  Landbouweekblad (in press) (Afrikaans only).
BURGER, D.A., TAYLOR, M.A., JACOBS, G. & HUYSAMER, M. (2004).  Influence of harvest maturity on quality of cold stored Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Thompson Seedless’ and ‘Red Globe’ table grapes, with special reference to berry split.  S. Afr. J. Plant Soil, Vol. 22 (1).
BURGER, D.A., TAYLOR, M.A., JACOBS, G. & HUYSAMER, M. (2005).  Influence of storage duration and elevation of storage temperature on the development of berry split and berry abscission in Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Thompson Seedless’ table grapes.  S. Afr. J. Enol. Vitic., Vol. 26 (2).
BURGER, D.A., TAYLOR, M.A., JACOBS, G. & HUYSAMER, M. (2005).  Berry abscission in Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Waltham Cross’: Changes in abscission-related factors during berry development.  S. Afr. J. Enol. Vitic., Vol. 26 (2).

Rafael Parada

Licensing Manager, Chile

Rafael was born into agriculture in Quillota, Chile which is known as the land of avocados. He now works to expand Chilean variety development efforts and to represent Sun World amongst the Chilean fruit industry – including its nurseries, producers and exporters. This entails that he skillfully coordinate efforts between Sun World’s licensed nurseries, test and commercial producers, and licensed exporters, as well as liaison with U.S.-based breeding program staff, other Sun World country managers and the North American sales and marketing team. His success comes from his years in the industry, first at Chiquita, then at Sun World. He also garnered experience at several Chilean export companies.

When it comes to choosing his favorite Sun World fruit, the decision isn’t easy. But Rafael finally settled on HONEYCOT® brand apricots – a popular choice.

Uldarico Durazo

Licensing Manager, Mexico & Peru

Uldarico manages licensee activities in Mexico and Peru, ensuring that Sun World’s high global standards are consistently met. He brings over two decades of experience in agricultural research and management to his job, which he fulfills with the utmost dedication. Uldarico earned his master’s in Horticulture Science from the University of Arizona and has published a number of technical reports (see below). His degree and research further exemplify his expertise in his field.

Uldarico would like to resemble a SCARLOTTA SEEDLESS® brand grape. He says the bold red color and large size makes this grape look very strong.

PUBLICATIONS:

ULDARICO DURAZO “Jojoba in Hermosillo Coast.” Technical bulletin (Ciano Issue #108) February 1979
ULDARICO DURAZO “Investigation about Jojoba domestication for Northwest of Mexico” Jojoba Happening No.-26 1979 Arid Land Study, University of AZ
ULDARICO DURAZO“Jojoba plants Production levels of 8 years in Hermosillo Coast.”  5th International Conference. University of Az. 1985
ULDARICO DURAZO “Jojoba and domestication in Hermosillo Coast.”  Memory of the 10th Association for Agricultural Sciences of Latin-American, Acapulco, Guerrero Mexico 1979

Maurizio Ventura

Licensing Manager, Europe

As the licensing manager in Europe, Maurizio Ventura travels throughout the country providing technical support to our licensed growers abroad. That technical support comes with a doctorate in tree fruit science from the University of Bologna, as well as years of researching the genetics of apples, peaches, plums and kiwifruit. Maurizio’s expertise is vast. He is responsible for the breeding and patenting of the apple variety Gold Chief® – quite an accomplishment.
 
When not managing the distribution of Sun World fruit in Europe, Maurizio indulges in it. He shared his own family recipe for Italian Schiacciata (sweet bread) on our website, which he bakes with delicious SABLE SEEDLESS® brand grapes. He also enjoys the sweet and Muscat flavors of the SOPHIA SEEDLESS® brand grapes, a favorite of many European consumers.

Garth Swinburn

Licensing Manager, Australia

Garth’s role is to introduce Sun World varieties to Australia, New Zealand and China. He has spent the past 30 years involved in fruit production, horticultural developments and marketing of produce in these regions. For the past 15 years he has worked as an independent consultant in the irrigated regions of the Murray Valley in Australia and has been involved in a wide range of crop types including grapes, citrus, stonefruit and almonds. Garth’s degree in horticultural science from Lincoln University in New Zealand and post graduate Dip.Ag.Econ from the University of New England, have contributed to his interest in commercial aspects of fruit production and produce supply chains. He sees the concept of intellectual property management with Sun World’s breeding programs and commercialization of new varieties, as a key to sustainable fruit production and marketing.

Contact Garth at GSwinburn@sun-world.com.

Terry Bacon

Director of Variety Development, Table Grape and Stonefruit Breeder

Breeding better fruit is Terry’s mission. He directs fruit breeding and commercial testing operations at Sun World’s Variety Development Center, ensuring that the best characteristics are always maximized in delicious new varieties. Terry also coordinates custom field and post-harvest research and works closely with the licensing department to maintain the integrity of Sun World produce.

Sharon Rosenthal

Laboratory Manager

After working in the plant-breeding department of the USDA, Sharon joined Sun World in 1987. She spends her days in the plant tissue culture lab helping to develop the next new variety of delicious Sun World produce. She also oversees the greenhouse and material distribution. It’s because of experts like Sharon that we get to enjoy wonderful fruits and vegetables throughout the year.

To keep on innovating, Sharon affiliates herself with various industry organizations including the International Plant Propagators’ Society, the American Society for Horticultural Science, and the Society for In Vitro Biology.

When it comes to enjoying the fruits of her labor, Sharon has a weakness for Sun World’s HONEYCOT® brand apricots baked into a warm cobbler. Who doesn’t?

Gary Lott

Research Associate, Grape Breeding Program

Gary’s job is to grow the next great grape. He works with the Variety Development team creating and analyzing new varieties that might become the next SUPERIOR SEEDLESS®, MIDNIGHT BEAUTY® or SCARLOTTA SEEDLESS® brand grapes. He first fell in love with agriculture while volunteering on a reforestation project in Haiti in the early 80s. He continued to pursue his interests at UC Davis and joined Sun World thereafter. His accomplishments at Sun World are enviable by many standards. He’s earned the 20 Year Award and has been part of the research team that developed and brought to market many of Sun World’s proprietary branded varieties..
 
When not perfecting grapes, Gary is enjoying them. His current favorite is the mild Muscat flavor and crunch of Sun World’s newest late-season green seedless grape. And when it comes to dessert, his tastes are simple: AMBER CREST® brand peaches and vanilla ice cream.

Larry Okumoto

Research Associate, Stonefruit Breeding Program

The art of growing the most perfect fruit boils down to a science. That’s where Larry comes in. As a Research Associate, he supervises a crew studying stone fruit pollinations and tree growth. Having been raised on a raisin and plum family farm, Larry is very intimate with the nuances of fruit development. His experience is most certainly Sun World’s gain. And it’s that experience you can trust – especially when Larry tells you that BLACK DIAMOND® brand plums picked right at peak season are the best plums around.