VANCOUVER, B.C. — The Oppenheimer Group has added domestic flavor to its citrus category.

In partnership with Golden Maid Packers of Strathmore, Calif., the full-service marketer will begin shipping California-grown Valencia and Navel oranges and lemons in early May — and domestically-grown citrus will appear for the first time ever in the Oppenheimer brand.

“The global citrus category is very dynamic right now,” said John Anderson, the company’s chairman, president and CEO. “Adding domestic fruit to our repertoire enables us to market a wide range of citrus with an integrated approach, serving our customers with year-round access to preferred varieties.”

Oppenheimer is no stranger to citrus. The company is well known for building the Japanese mandarin orange market in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest well over a century ago, and has long been a source of Australian navel oranges and other varieties grown Down Under. More recently, Oppenheimer has focused on strategically building its citrus volume and assortment, which now encompasses fruit from Argentina, Australia, Chile, Japan, Korea, Morocco, Peru, Spain, and California.

“About three years ago, we saw the U.S. becoming more accommodating to import citrus, just as plantings of popular varieties, like Clementines and W. Murcotts began to increase globally,” said James Milne, director of Oppenheimer’s citrus category. “As we developed our import program, we have been seeking the right opportunity to complement it with domestic fruit.”

Oppenheimer’s California citrus program was sparked by its new stone fruit relationship with Golden Maid, a partnership which was struck earlier this year. Golden Maid is the latest member of Oppenheimer’s domestic stone fruit grower family, which also includes Bujulian Brothers, Inc., and Wildwood Packing and Cooling, both of Kingsburg, Calif.

“Golden Maid’s citrus volume is a logical accompaniment to our shared stone fruit program,” said Milne. “In addition, the facility is located not far from our Central Valley grape growers, which could create shipping efficiencies for our customers. We are also considering taking advantage of this top-notch operation by consolidating our domestic and summer import citrus fruit there, and custom packing to order at Golden Maid. We’re looking forward to nurturing our California citrus program together as the deal ramps back up in autumn and winter.”

Like Oppenheimer, Golden Maid is an enduring company that balances many of the same philosophical priorities: taking care of customer needs with an eye to grower returns, while acknowledging that it’s the hard work of many hands that makes it all happen.

“Golden Maid Packers has a long family farming tradition that has been growing stone fruit, grapes, kiwis, and citrus in the same locations for over 60 years,” said CEO Kerry Whitson.

The farming business was started by Kenneth Myers in 1921. His son, Bruce Myers, who continues to be actively involved today, followed in his footsteps in 1950, incorporating Golden Maid Packing sixteen years later. Bruce Myers’ daughter, Cindy Myers, serves as its president, and son-in-law, Whitson, as its CEO. His grandson, Joshua Whitson, continues the tradition of farming, packing, shipping, and marketing fresh California fruits into the fourth generation as the company’s safety compliance coordinator.

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