Sun World International is celebrating its 50th anniversary, but the company is already looking into the next 50. The firm is branching out beyond table grapes, adding mangoes and citrus to its portfolio, while sharpening its breeding strategy around consistency, system-wide performance, and year-round supply.
CEO Bernardo Calvo tells FreshFruitPortal.com that breeding priorities have evolved, and innovation today must simultaneously serve consumers, growers, and retailers over decades, not seasons.
“Great fruit now is built through systems, not moments,” Calvo says. “That’s probably the biggest difference that we’re seeing now versus in the past.”
Timing is also essential, as growers face tighter labor availability, higher input costs, and climate pressure, while retailers demand longer shelf life and 52-week programs. The bottom line, he says, is that breeding has to deliver to the entire supply chain.
Here, the executive explains, Sun World sees three priorities: the consumer and their experience; the producer and their concern for growing viability and sustainability; and finally, retailers and their programs’ performance.
Rather than widely deploying new varieties quickly, Sun World licenses to selected growers that meet quality and production standards, Calvo says.
“If you entice the consumers at one moment and then you don’t have the same experience consistently, you’re going to lose them,” he points out.
The head of Sun World describes the company’s philosophy as “innovate boldly, but commercialize responsibly,” and it’s under this motto that it recently added 10 new marketers to its global licensee network.
“When you have a good variety, the natural temptation is to go out and sell the heck out of it,” he says. “But if you go down that path, you’re putting a risk on the longer term for short-term growth and revenue.”
Calvo’s company has made a name for itself around the world thanks to its industry-famous table grapes, but now the aim goes beyond that. Following its 2024 acquisition of South African Plant Breeders Rights (PBRs) managing company Biogold, Calvo says Sun World is now dipping its toes in the mango and citrus categories.
The timing couldn’t be better, as mango consumption in the US has increased steadily in recent years, according to the National Mango Board.
One variety moving from semi-commercial to commercial production is Blyde, a late mango cultivar planted in South Africa that Calvo says is picked about six weeks after the last traditional harvest, creating a supply window when few mangoes are available.
The executive says the variety aims to improve taste experience, with a less fibrous texture, as well as address operational concerns such as chemical and water use and cold storage needs.
Looking ahead, Calvo says Sun World is investing heavily in data, artificial intelligence, and global field trials to accelerate breeding while reducing risk. The company openly shares agronomic data information with its licensed growers to improve performance across regions.
“Resilience comes from diverse data and partnerships,” he says. “Good data is king, but only if you can share it inside your system.”
As Sun World enters its next 50 years, Calvo says the company is keeping its eyes on the prize, but that its philosophy remains a stepping stone.
“We will not compromise our long-term interests for short-term gains,” he adds.
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