Wonderful Citrus LLC, headquartered in Delano, California, is the largest integrated grower, packer, and shipper of fresh citrus in the United States. As part of The Wonderful Company—a privately held $5 billion enterprise—Wonderful Citrus manages every facet of the citrus supply chain from seed to store, encompassing nursery operations, farming, harvesting, packing, and distribution. With decades of operational experience and a focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability, Wonderful Citrus is a global leader in premium citrus.
Core Business and Mission
The company’s mission is to deliver the freshest, highest-quality citrus products to customers around the world while operating with a commitment to environmental sustainability and community investment. Through vertical integration, Wonderful Citrus maintains complete control over its production process, ensuring full traceability, consistent supply, and superior food safety across all operations.
Product and Brand Portfolio
Wonderful Citrus offers a comprehensive portfolio of citrus fruits under several well-known consumer brands:
- Mandarins (Halos® – America’s #1 branded mandarin)
- Navel Oranges
- Cara Cara Oranges
- Valencia Oranges
- Lemons
- Including seedless lemon varieties under the Wonderful Seedless Lemons® brand
- Limes
- Focus on Persian limes through I. Kunik and B&S Grupo Empresarial acquisitions
- Grapefruit (marketed under Sweet Scarletts®)
- Specialty Citrus including Minneola tangelos and other seasonal varieties
The company markets its products under strong, vertically controlled brand names:
- Wonderful Halos® – Leading U.S. mandarin brand
- Wonderful Seedless Lemons® – One of the first branded seedless lemon lines
- Wonderful Sweet Scarletts® – Premium red grapefruit brand
- Paramount Citrus® – Wholesale and private label division
Scale, Infrastructure, and Production
- Total Acreage: Over 74,000 acres of citrus orchards across California, Texas, and Mexico
- Facilities: 10+ citrus packing facilities across North America
- Employees: Over 7,000 citrus experts globally
- Varieties: More than 10 citrus varietals grown and marketed
- Annual Production: Over 100 million boxes of citrus packed and shipped annually
- Nurseries: Proprietary citrus nurseries that support varietal development and disease-resistant rootstock propagation
Wonderful Citrus’ main facilities include one of the largest mandarin packinghouses in the world located in Delano, CA, equipped with state-of-the-art sorting, washing, and cold-chain systems.
Specialization and Unique Selling Points
- Vertical Integration: Total control from tree planting through harvesting, packing, and logistics
- Seedless Lemon Innovation: One of the first to commercialize and brand seedless lemon varieties
- Sustainable Farming: Drip irrigation systems reduce water use by up to 40%, while integrated pest management minimizes chemical application
- Advanced Technology: Optical graders, robotic palletizers, and AI-driven logistics platforms support high-volume, precision operations
- Retail Power: Strong consumer loyalty driven by effective branding and marketing campaigns (notably Halos and Sweet Scarletts)
Wonderful’s in-house agronomic team works with R&D experts to continually improve yields, shelf life, and sensory quality of citrus through varietal selection and rootstock optimization.
Export and Distribution Network
- Main Distribution Channels: Major retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice in the U.S., Canada, and select global markets
- Top Export Markets: Canada, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE
- Lime Exports: Through I. Kunik and B&S, Wonderful Citrus supplies limes to North American and Latin American buyers
- Logistics:
- Integrated cold chain from harvest to delivery
- Export via Port of Los Angeles and Port of Houston
- Rail and refrigerated trucking for domestic distribution
The company’s logistics system allows it to deliver fresh citrus to most North American retail distribution centers within 48 hours of packing.
Target Markets
- Retail Chains: Costco, Walmart, Kroger, Whole Foods, Publix, Safeway
- Foodservice and Restaurant Distributors
- E-commerce grocery fulfillment
- Export distributors targeting premium fruit categories
Its strong brand presence, category leadership, and vertically integrated supply make it a preferred supplier for top retail and foodservice buyers globally.
Capabilities
- Proprietary Varietals and Breeding Programs
- 24/7 Packing Operations During Peak Season
- Cold Chain Compliance and Real-Time Tracking
- Custom Packaging Solutions for Private Labels
- Compliance with Global Market Regulations (Japan, EU, GCC)
Wonderful Citrus is a member of SCS Global Services for environmental certifications and has food safety programs audited under GlobalG.A.P., GFSI, and PrimusGFS standards.
Certifications and Compliance
- GlobalG.A.P. and PrimusGFS Certified
- FDA FSMA Compliance for all U.S. operations
- SCS Sustainably Grown Certification (select products)
- Non-GMO Certification (for Halos)
- Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) for secure global trade
All facilities adhere to strict sanitation, allergen control, and worker safety protocols. Wonderful Citrus also participates in carbon footprint reporting and ESG transparency initiatives under The Wonderful Company’s sustainability roadmap.
Testimonials
“Wonderful Citrus delivers unparalleled product consistency. Their Halos program is a retail benchmark for citrus branding.”
— Produce Director, Major U.S. Supermarket Chain
“From seed to shelf, their vertical model gives us confidence in food safety and traceability.”
— Senior Sourcing Manager, International Produce Distributor
Achievements
- #1 mandarin brand in North America – Halos®
- Commercialized one of the first seedless lemon varieties in the U.S. market
- Over 100 million cartons shipped annually
- Acquired and integrated 7,100 acres of lime production through I. Kunik and B&S acquisitions
- Invested over $50 million in sustainability and water conservation initiatives
- Recognized in Fortune’s “Change the World” list (via The Wonderful Company) for agricultural innovation
Wonderful Citrus continues to lead the U.S. citrus industry with data-driven precision agriculture, product innovation, and category-defining brands, while maintaining a deep commitment to sustainability and global supply reliability.
