Although Meyer lemons are grown year round, a new crop began this month and Sunkist is aggressively marketing this citrus item to the retail community.

This unique lemon variety will be at its peak of perfection during the upcoming winter months, and Joan Wickham, manager of advertising and public relations for Sunkist Growers, told The Produce News in mid-October that the “opportunity is ripe for retailers to educate consumers about this distinctive lemon variety. Our crop will be larger this year, with more acreage coming into production.”Meyer lemons, which are a bit sweeter and less acidic than conventional lemons, are grown year round but have a peak season from December to March. Sunkist Growers plans to aggressively market the speciality citrus item to the retail community.

She said peak Meyer lemon season is December to March, which makes this variety great to promote for holiday baking and beverages, as well as healthy cooking following the new year. Sunkist’s growers produce Meyer lemons in all of its California and Arizona growing districts, which include the San Joaquin Valley, coastal Ventura County, the Coachella Valley and western Arizona.

Thought to be a cross between a conventional lemon and a Mandarin, Meyer lemons are a bit sweeter and less acidic than conventional lemons, with a refreshing herbal scent. The lemons are bright yellow to rich yellow-orange with a thin, tender rind that gives them a smooth, soft feel.

“Perfect for lemon-based desserts and lemonades,” Wickham said.   

The Meyer lemon originated in China and was introduced in the United States in early 1900s by Frank Nicholas Meyer, an agricultural explorer working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Wickham said that the Meyer lemon tree was initially sought for its ornamental value, as the fruit is very beautiful and the blossoms extremely fragrant. But influential chefs caught on to the unique flavor, and growers realized that it held commercial promise.  

“Sunkist has been selling Meyer lemons for about 10 years, and production continues to increase as demand grows for specialty produce items like this variety,” Wickham said.

She noted that “education is critical when it comes to driving sales of newer varieties like Meyer lemons.”

Sunkist offers retailers an array of merchandising tools to promote the attributes of this fruit, including usage ideas, recipes, point-of-sale materials and customized bins. With new, high-speed printing capabilities, the custom bins and point-of-sale material can be produced with just one-week lead time, “allowing retailers to quickly execute promotional programs in a way that fits their store’s unique formats and needs,” she said.

Sunkist recommends that Meyer lemons be merchandised in the produce department in addition to conventional lemons because of their unique characteristics. Sunkist also offers Meyer lemons in high-graphic pouch bags that highlight educational messaging, making it simple for retailers to promote the variety if they do not have space for displays or signage.