Sun-Maid Growers of California

Established in 1912, Sun-Maid Growers of California is the world’s largest producer, processor and marketer of raisins and other premium quality dried fruits.

One of Fresno County’s largest employers, Sun-Maid is located in Kingsburg – in the heart of the raisin producing district. Located midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, California’s San Joaquin Valley produces almost all the raisins sold in the United States and approximately one-third of the world’s supply.

Sun-Maid’s sales of $300 million annually are half retail consumer products and half ingredient products used for such items as cereals, breads and a variety of other food products.

For over 95 years, Sun-Maid has played a key role in the California raisin and dried fruit industry. Consumer favorites worldwide, Sun-Maid products are distributed throughout the U.S. and in more than 50 countries.

When it comes to sustainability, Sun-Maid is a proven leader. Recycled materials are used in Sun-Maid packaging, processing water is recycled to grow grass for animal feed, paper trays for drying raisins are recycled, and its byproducts are used to create several other useful products.

In a year, California’s grapevines assimilate 13.5 million tons of carbon dioxide and liberate 9.5 million tons of oxygen. In 2007 alone, California’s grapevines offset the CO2 produced from 1.35 billion gallons of gasoline, which is the equivalent of the amount of gas used each year by 1 million Chevrolet Suburbans. The use of sun drying over 90 percent of California raisins as opposed to the 6 trillion Btu of natural gas it would take to use dryers is significant by itself to show an industry that believes in sustainability.