Sun World appoints its first Peruvian grape producer-marketer licensee

by Press Release | April 12, 2012

Sun World appointed Peruvian grape specialist Agricola Don Ricardo as its first grape producer-marketer licensee in the Andean nation.

ADR was founded in 1996 by Ricardo Briceno and Rafael Ibarguren, and it is managed by Mr. Ibarguren, operations manager, and Alejandro Fuentes, commercial and administrative manager. The company produces a wide range of grapes in Peru's Ica Valley and is a leading Peruvian producer-exporter, supplying clients in the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States and Asia.

"Our new Peruvian partner will be an excellent addition to the Sun World licensee network," Johan Jooste, international licensing vice president of Sun World, said in a press release. "I am confident that ADR's professionalism and commitment to quality grape production and distribution will complement well our other Southern Hemisphere licensees in particular."

Sun World’s new variety-development work focuses on a full range of fresh grapes with distinct characteristics, including enhanced flavor, unique taste, larger berries and clusters, earlier and later ripening times and availability, and increased productivity. The company also develops new plums, peaches, apricots and nectarines for its own production and for other growers to produce under license.

Sun World operates one of the world's larger table grape- and stone fruit-breeding programs. In addition to production on its own California properties, Sun World, its licensees or both grow these proprietary varieties in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe, South America, Israel and South Africa.

Sun World's fruit licensing program involves more than 1,000 producers and marketing companies in many of the world's major fruit-growing regions. In addition to the appointment of ADR, Sun World has licensed grape marketers in Italy (Peviani, DiDonna and Apofruit); Portugal (Vale de Rosa); Israel (TALI Grapes); Chile (Dole Chile, Unifrutti, Subsole and Frutera Santa Maria); Australia (Perfection Fresh and Grape Exchange) South Africa (Capespan, The Grape Co., Dole South Africa, Green Marketing and Suiderland/New Vision); Spain (El Ciruelo and MOYCA); and in Brazil (COANA, Katope and Special Fruit).