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The
Farms

Great Things Require
great Effort

Dedicated Growers

Only expert citrus growers are able to cultivate the notoriously difficult to grow Sumo Citrus® from a seed to a fruit-bearing tree. For the past 20 years, the passionate growers have perfected the cultivation of Sumo Citrus in California’s San Joaquin Valley, maintaining the highest growing standards possible.

Variety Heritage

Sumo Citrus is the first premium and highly sought-after dekopon grown commercially in the United States. When this unique mandarin hybrid came to the United States from Japan, it took citrus experts more than ten years to perfect the fruit before it made its way to stores.

Growing Difficulty

There is no doubt that it is the most difficult citrus to cultivate. The fruit’s extremely delicate skin is easily bruised and sunburned. Only growers of Sumo Citrus know what it takes to pamper this fruit from seed to table.

High Standards

Not every fruit can be considered a Sumo Citrus, only fruit that measures up in size and taste. Growers have to consistently walk their fields and determine which pieces of fruit are good enough to be called Sumo Citrus.

Packing & Storing

After being hand-picked, every single piece of Sumo Citrus is gently cleaned, packed by hand, and stored at our state-of-the-art packing facility.

Agricultural Responsibility

Sumo Citrus is raised by passionate, expert growers who respect natural ecosystems, resources, and community well-being.

A year in the life of sumo citrus

All year long, dedicated Sumo Citrus growers tend to the fruit in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Explore the Sumo Citrus growing lifecycle below:

Pruning

Growers carefully survey the land to make sure the fruit is growing to its fullest potential, producing only the sweetest, juiciest, most enormous fruit.

Irrigation

In the hot summertime, growers irrigate the groves to ensure Sumo Citrus trees receive sufficient water throughout the drier months.

Sun Protection

Sumo Citrus loves warm, sunny weather, but it needs sun protection to avoid damage. Growers take careful precautions to protect the fruit from harsh summer rays in the Central Valley.

Weather Protection

Growers take precautions to protect the fruit against winds, rain, fungus, and freeze.

Harvest

Pruning

Bloom

Irrigation

Sun Protection

Measurement

Color Break

Weather Protection

Grower Spotlight

Hear what passionate growers have to say about the legendary fruit.

Seth Wollenman

Hillside Southeast of Lindsay, CA

“You can't take shortcuts with this variety.”

Kellie Neufield

Lindsay, CA

“Watching them get picked and packed and ready to go to the market, that's what we love about Sumo Citrus.”

Keith Cosart

Tulare County, CA

“I always love a challenge, and growing Sumo Citrus is definitely a challenge.”

Roger Smith

Exeter, CA

“Probably one of the most difficult varieties of citrus to grow on the planet.”

Julie imbimbo

Strathmore, CA

“This is like the perfect fruit. ”

The Bay Family

Porterville, CA

“The Sumo Citrus is the biggest challenge I’ve ever had. ”

Sumo citrus is the world’s most pampered fruit

Hand-pruned for more sunlight.

Ripened on the tree.

Hand-picked from trees.

Harvested in small totes instead of big bins.

Floated into the line to prevent bruising.

Hand-packed into each crate.

a commitment to
regenerative farming

protecting the ecosystem

We are trialing regenerative farming practices like cover-cropping and reduced-till farming to improve soil biodiversity.

As permanent crops, healthy trees reduce erosion and hold carbon in the soil.

resource management

Investment in water-saving technologies like drip irrigation and moisture sensors.

Farms store and bank water to prepare for changing climatic conditions.

Investment in solar projects to control costs and reduce carbon footprint.

Energy-efficient LED lighting and energy monitoring to optimize packing and cold storage systems.

Sumo Citrus Farms

Strathmore, California

Strathmore, California

Exeter, California

Porterville, California

Lindsay, California

Lindsay, California

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