Sun World International welcomed more than 300 licensees, marketers, retailers and partners from across the world to its Center for Innovation in Wasco, California, for its August 2025 Field Day event.
The event gave partners a clear view of the company's latest advancements and underscored a shift reshaping the category. Consumers now expect larger berries, crisp texture, and layered flavors — from muscat to peach, rose, and citrus — with Autumncrisp® continuing to anchor this demand. A major highlight was the company's late-season program where attendees sampled new selections bred for durability, crunch, and longer shelf life, engineered to perform consistently even under late-season weather pressure.
For growers, the priority is performance. Varieties must not only appeal to consumers but also deliver in the vineyard. The company highlighted how its latest breeding advancements are designed to lower inputs and production costs, pesticide applications, and adapt to unpredictable climate conditions. These efficiencies free up labor, improve vineyard sustainability, and create more reliable yields.
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"When our global partners are in the vineyard, tasting new selections and discussing climate challenges, they're not just seeing what's coming next season, they're seeing what's coming in the next decade," said Bernardo Calvo, president and CEO of Sun World International. "Consumers are raising the bar, and it's our responsibility to anticipate, innovate, and deliver — not just react."
The event also spotlighted how the company is harnessing AI and genetic analysis to accelerate the decade-long journey from seedling to shelf. DNA indicators now guide breeders toward desired traits — berry size, vine strength, post-harvest performance — with greater precision, shortening timelines and improving predictability.
"Our job is to anticipate where the market is going — from climate shifts to consumer tastes — and to give growers the genetics, insights, and confidence to thrive," added Calvo. "That's what makes these field events so powerful: they bring our entire network into the conversation about the future."
For more information:
Sun World
Tel: +1 (661) 631-4100
https://www.sun-world.com/