Sun World International LLC has appointed three new grape marketer licensees — Giuliano Puglia Fruit of Puglia, Italy; Exportadora Santa Elena S.A. of Colina, Chile; and GESEX S.A. of Buin, Chile — to distribute the California company’s licensed grapes.

The appointments bring Sun World’s total marketer network to 32 grape companies and 22 stone fruit companies in 12 countries.

Giuliano Puglia Fruit is owned by Nicola, Giovani and Vito Giuliano. It is located in Turi, in southern Italy’s Puglia region, where the Giuliano family produces table grapes, stone fruit and citrus that is marketed to leading supermarket customers throughout Europe.

GESEX, one of Chile’s leading exporters, was formed in 1998 by a group of producers focused on delivering high-quality fruit to demanding customers throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Its commercial team, under the direction of Juan Gabriel Perez and with sales offices in some of its overseas markets, packs and exports grapes, citrus and stone fruit from throughout Chile’s main fruit-producing regions and is planning similar capability from Peru.

Santa Elena is an exclusive grower-exporter focused on producing table grapes in Chile’s central and southern regions with special focus on direct service to retailer, in particular high-end markets in the United Kingdom, U.S. and Canada. It was founded in the early 1980s and its owners today farm 325 acres.

In addition to distributing fruit from new seedless grape varieties developed by Sun World, all three companies have been given licenses to use Sun World’s brands, including "MIDNIGHT BEAUTY," "SCARLOTTA SEEDLESS" and "SABLE SEEDLESS" in the marketplace, Sun World Executive Vice President David Marguleas said.

“The distribution of Sun World’s grape varieties will reach even farther, and visibility of our most prominent brands will become stronger with the involvement and expertise of these leading Chilean and Italian fruit grower-marketers,” Marguleas said in a press release.

Sun World's fruit-licensing program involves more than 1,000 producers and marketing companies in most of the world's major fruit-growing regions. In addition to the appointment of Giuliano Puglia Fruit, Santa Elena and GESEX, 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, Grape Exchange and Fresh Produce Group-W.A.) South Africa (Capespan, The Grape Co., Dole South Africa, Green Marketing, Suiderland/New Vision and Freshworld); Spain (El Ciruelo and MOYCA); Peru (Agricola Don Ricardo and Camposol; Mexico (Grupo Alta) and in Brazil (COANA, Expofruit, Katope and Special Fruit).

Its new variety-development work focuses on a full range of fresh grapes with extraordinary characteristics such as enhanced flavor, distinctive taste, larger berries and clusters, earlier and later ripening times and availability, and increased productivity. The California company also develops new plums, peaches, apricots and nectarines.

Sun World is a leading innovator in the research, production, distribution and promotion of fresh produce. The company maintains integrated agricultural operations throughout central and southeastern California. More information about Sun World is available at www.Sun-World.com.