Duda Announces Year-Round Meyer Lemon Program

By Growing Produce Staff|July 29, 2013

Duda Farm Fresh Foods has announced a new program to offer Meyer lemons year-round in an effort to meet the growing demand of the popular citrus item among consumers.

Since 2008, Meyer lemons have become a widely known and popular ingredient amongst professional chefs and home cooks across America. As a result and in accordance with the company’s efforts to expand its strategic grower partnerships worldwide, Duda Farm Fresh Foods has procured a relationship with growers in New Zealand to supplement the company’s domestic crop in promotable volumes from May to September, just before the company’s California product becomes available from October to March. The highlight of the New Zealand season this year will be slightly larger fruit than in past years.

“When demand is driving consumption of your product, you find a way to get the product when it is out of season,” said Mark Bassetti, senior vice president of Duda Farm Fresh Foods. “Consumers are excited about Meyer lemons and seek to find them in stores, even when they are out of season. This presents our company with a great opportunity to deliver and provide our retail partners with a solution from a company that they know and trust.”

Originally from China, the Meyer lemon is a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange. The fruit has a thin skin with a bright yellow rind that darkens to orange-yellow as it ripens. Its aromatic juice is much sweeter than a conventional lemon and is a favorite of gourmet cooks and dessert chefs. Foodie influencers such as Bobby Flay and Martha Stewart, sing the praises of Meyer lemons, which have helped fuel consumer demand.