“It’s something we’re continuing to focus on with our grower-partners both domestically, and abroad,” noted Tom Beaver, director of sales and marketing. “The key is finding varieties that are adequately tailored to the unique environmental conditions in different growing regions. For example, high-chill varieties that perform well in New Jersey’s sandy, acidic soil are not suited for arid regions of Peru, and vice versa. It’s a process that takes time, given the investment associated with integrating new varieties, but it is something that is becoming increasingly important as customers seek out the best fruit.”He emphasized that this includes everything from identifying the perfect opportunities throughout the deal for promotion, accommodating custom packaging requests and offering private label packing. “We want to meet our customers where they need to be to ensure that their customers — the final consumer — get exactly what they are looking for when they buy our products and keep coming back for more,” Beaver said. “If we’re able to accomplish that, we know that we will be successful, and our customers will as well.”
Founded in 1986 primarily as an importer of fresh Chilean table grapes, Beaver said that Sunny Valley International has evolved significantly over the years, most notably through expansion into different categories, including imported and domestic berries and Eastern stone fruit.
“This transition started with the integration of imported blueberries from Chile more than 25-years ago, and continued when we become the exclusive sales and marketing partner for the Jersey Fruit Cooperative, New Jersey’s oldest and largest wholesale fruit cooperative,” Beaver explained. “At that time, the Co-Op handled New Jersey stone fruit exclusively, but has evolved over the years to also include a large percentage of New Jersey’s commercial blueberry acreage. Now, we represent 10 blueberry growers and three stone fruit producers in New Jersey, including Larchmont Farms, which is the largest peach grower in the state by volume.”
Additionally, Beaver said that the company has expanded its portfolio to include berries and stone fruit from other domestic growing regions, including its partnership with Dixie Belle farms, one of the largest stone fruit growers on the East Coast. On the imports-side, Sunny Valley continues to be a major importer of berries and grapes, and now also market a full range of pip fruit and citrus items.
