Press Packet Not for Public Distribution a Legendary Fruit

PRESS PACKET NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION A LEGENDARY FRUIT

Think of a huge mandarin, easy to peel and seedless, with firm flesh that melts in the mouth, an intense sweetness balanced by refreshing acidity, and a complex, lingering mandarin orange aroma. I’ve tasted more than 1,000 varieties of citrus, and to me [it’s] the most delicious.

– David Karp, Los Angeles Times HISTORY

BORN IN JAPAN, RAISED IN CALIFORNIA

This rare seedless variety was Over many years, his hard work originally cultivated in in the paid off and the variety became 1970’s by a citrus grower from the most prized fruit in Japan Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan and Korea. who set out to develop the ultimate citrus. Seedlings of the fruit were first imported into the US in 1998, He combined the best of easy- but because Sumo Citrus is to-peel Japanese varieties with one of the most challenging big, juicy sweet oranges from varieties to grow, it wasn’t until California. 2011 that they became available to the public.

3 THERE’S ONLY ONE SUMO CITRUS, HERE’S WHY:

SUPER- EASY TO SWEET ENORMOUS PEEL NO MESS SEEDLESS

4 CALL IT NAMING SUMO CITRUS

• Sumo Citrus is a hybrid • However, not every derived from Pomelo, dekopon is a Sumo NOT Navel, and Mandarin. Citrus, only those meeting the enormously ORANGE • The variety was dubbed delicious standards in ‘dekopon’ in Japan both size and taste. in reference to its SUMO distinctive top knot. In Korea, it is referred to as SUMO ORANGE ‘hallabong.’

SUMO MANDARIN

5 “ THE FARMS A huge amount of hard work and dedication goes into each and Sumo Citrus is raised by growing every Sumo Citrus. Our expert growers experts in California’s Central Valley. go above and beyond Only these passionate growers to ensure the highest quality possible and know what it takes to handle the this year is no different. exceptionally delicate Sumo Citrus. – Scott Owens, Sumo Citrus GM ”

6 THE FARMS

GREAT THINGS REQUIRE GREAT EFFORT

DEDICATED CITRUS HIGH STANDARDS/ PACKING & GROWERS TESTING STORING

Only the expert growers Not every fruit can be Every single piece of of Sumo Citrus growers considered a Sumo Sumo Citrus grown in are able to cultivate Citrus, only fruit that North America is gently this difficult-to-grow measures up in size and cleaned and hand- fruit. Growers maintain taste. Farmers have to packed and stored in our the highest growing consistently walk their legacy packing facility. standards possible. fields and determine Each Sumo Citrus is which pieces of fruit are consistency tested on good enough to be called the Brix meter to ensure Sumo Citrus. maximum sweetness. WHAT’S THE BRIX METER?

Citrus taste is technically measured in terms of degrees Brix, Titratable Acid (“TA”), and the Brix-to-acid ratio. Brix and TA measure the sugar content and acidity, respectively, of a liquid solution. Sumo Citrus has a very high sugar to acid ratio, providing an incredible sweetness. 7 GROWING

SUMO CITRUS IS THE WORLD’S MOST PAMPERED FRUIT

• Nearly all North American • Harvested in small totes Sumo Citrus is grown instead of big bins in a 60-mile area in California’s Central Valley • Floated into the line to prevent bruising • Trees are hand-pruned for more sunlight • Hand-packed into each crate • Ripened on the tree • Transported in air ride • Each fruit is hand-picked trailers

8 Jan AVAILABILITY

SUMO CITRUS HAS A VERY LIMITED SEASON: Apri l FROM JANUARY THROUGH APRIL

Sumo Citrus’ limited availability makes it a highly sought after fruit.

The hype is real, and fans get excited about Sumo

Citrus season every year. Sumo Season

Growing Season

9 DID YOU KNOW?

• This rare seedless fruit • Sumo Citrus has bumpy skin. originated in Japan and didn’t This is purely cosmetic and make its way to the US until has to do with when the fruit 1998. set on the tree.

• It took expert citrus growers • The fruit can develop slight over ten years to perfect the blemishes like discoloration, cultivation of this adored fruit, scarring or spotting; this is now harvested in California. purely cosmetic and does not impact the delicious flavor. • A unique hybrid derived from Pomelo, Navel, and Mandarin, • To ensure every bite is Sumo Citrus is named a super-sweet, Sumo Citrus’ “dekopon” for its distinctive sweetness is measured by the top knot. “BRIX scale”.

10 2021 CAMPAIGN CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES 1/04/21 A HEALTHY OBSESSION

Sumo Citrus has the most The 2021 “Healthy Obsession” amazing fans of any fruit in campaign will be driven by history. It’s no wonder, given Sumo Citrus fans, their passion, that it is super-sweet, easy- their wild obsession with the to-eat, and immediately world’s most iconic fruit. We’ll recognizable. People don’t be asking fans to share their just love Sumo Citrus, they love for the fruit, how they peel LOVE Sumo Citrus. We’ll be it, eat it, where they healthily amplifying what people love indulge, and just how many trips about Sumo Citrus like. It’s they make in one season to the one obsession that is good stock up. for you.

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