DELANO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Paramount Citrus today announced a major acquisition and addition to its citrus portfolio, rooting its status as the largest vertically integrated provider of Persian limes to North America. The 9,500 acres, in the state of Tabasco, Mexico, is positioned to be sold pursuant to definitive purchase agreement with a group of private landowners. Paramount Citrus is in the process of introducing its farming practices to the properties and will add these volumes of limes into its North American and international channels of distribution.
“With this acquisition, Paramount Citrus will provide customers with a seamless experience in what currently is a very fragmented market,” said David Krause, president of Paramount Citrus. “This property makes Paramount Citrus one the largest fully integrated growers and shippers of limes year-round, which is tremendously important to the retail and food service industry in North America.”
Limes are one of the fastest growing categories in citrus and also vital to the food service industry because of their versatility. Limes are a popular citrus staple in a variety of cultural cuisines such as Mexican, Southwestern, Thai, Vietnamese and Middle Eastern. Limes are also an important part of the beverage business and have become a mixologist’s staple ingredient.
“Paramount Citrus not only stays on top of agriculture research and advances, but culinary and consumer trends as well,” said Scott Owens, vice president of sales and marketing, Paramount Citrus. “As cultural cuisines become more mainstream, demands for certain produce increases.”
Owens added that Paramount’s parent company, Roll Global, brings a 360-degree approach to innovation and trend navigation through its in-house marketing and communications teams, propelling Paramount Citrus ahead of its competition.
Lemon Experience, Lime Learning
In 2008 Paramount Citrus acquired 6,000 acres of existing lemon properties in the vicinity of Victoria, Mexico. Since that time Paramount has added a significant amount of infrastructure (offices, packing facilities, irrigation systems, etc.) to its current Mexican operation and in 2011 will open a 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art packing facility.
Within the last three years, Paramount’s knowledge and stewardship of the land and farming practices resulted in it becoming the largest fresh lemon producer in Mexico. It is also in the process of planting an additional 2,000 acres of limes on its current properties that will complement this acquisition. These acres, which had been virtually abandoned, will be turned into productive, fertile land.
“Paramount Citrus’ experience in Mexico has prepared the company to deliver the quality, consistency and food safety standards to the lime industry,” added Krause. “We took our time to understand and improve the lemon practices, and now we plan to learn about Persian limes with the same passion and precision.”
About Paramount Citrus
Paramount Citrus is the largest integrated grower, shipper and packer of fresh citrus – Clementine mandarins, Navel oranges, Valencia oranges, lemons, limes and other citrus varieties – in the U.S. More than 15 million cartons from more than 41,500 acres of fresh citrus from its groves are shipped annually throughout North American, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim, and processed from its facilities in the San Joaquin Valley and Mexico. The Cuties California Clementines® brand is a partnership between Paramount Citrus, Sun Pacific and Fowler Packing. Paramount Citrus is fully owned by Roll Global, which is the number one grower and marketer of pistachio, almond, pomegranate and citrus commodities and consumer branded goods including POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice, FIIJI Water, Almond Accents, Justin Vineyards, and Wonderful Pistachios. For more information, please visit www.paramountcitrus.com.