Chilean Kumquat Season Kicks Off
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — Fresh kumquats from Chile are in season starting in late August to fill the demand for the popular tangy and sweet, bite-size citrus.
“Shoppers are asking for kumquats year-round, not just in the winter anymore,” said Alex Jackson Berkley, assistant sales manager at Frieda’s Specialty Produce. “Even Oprah recently mentioned her kumquat trees and sharing the fruits with her friends.”
Kumquats are trending.
“When there’s a wide gap between awareness and trial, we know that item is getting ready to take off,” added Berkley.
According to a Datassential report, 62 percent of the U.S. population know about kumquats and 23 percent have tried them.
Frieda’s worked with its grower partners in Chile for several years to develop production that is permitted for importation into the U.S. market. Chilean kumquat season now accounts for 25 percent of Frieda’s kumquat sales in volume. This percentage increases year-over-year as retailers and foodservice companies learn about the Chilean season, and as Frieda’s grower partners plant more fruit to meet the demand.
“Thanks to the contra-seasonal production from the Southern Hemisphere, we are able to fill the supply gap when California kumquats are not in season, making them more accessible to retailers, as well as foodservice providers,” said Berkley. “Retailers who take advantage of our Chilean kumquat season will see the incremental sales lift. We will have Chilean supplies from late August through December.
“We offer the same pack sizes for our Chilean as our Californian crop: 10-lb. bulk and 12/8 oz. branded pouch, which is easy for merchandising and ringing up. Our retail clients love our pouch pack, as it increases the sell through while reducing ‘shopper grazing’ shrink.”
In addition to kumquats, Frieda’s offers extended season and availability from grower partners around the world for many specialty citrus items to answer shoppers’ demand, including blood oranges, Meyer lemons, and more. Call a Frieda’s account manager today to have fresh citrus specialties available year-round.
About Frieda’s Inc.
Frieda’s Specialty Produce has been inspiring new food experiences for friends, families, and food lovers everywhere since 1962. From kiwifruit and dragon fruit to Stokes Purple sweet potatoes and habanero peppers, Frieda’s has introduced more than 200 unique fruits and vegetables to the U.S. marketplace. Founded by produce industry trailblazer Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, subject of the 2015 documentary “Fear No Fruit,” the family company is owned and operated by Frieda’s daughters, Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, in Orange County, California. Find Frieda’s on Facebook, @FriedasProduce and Friedas.com. Inspire. Taste. Love.
