Sunkist Goes Virtual at United Fresh LIVE! Expo, Showcases California Grove Simulation on Animal Crossing

Sunkist Growers, the 127-year-old citrus cooperative, is heading to the United Fresh LIVE! Expo, sharing a sneak peek of the ‘Sunkist Island’ in the virtual world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The interactive ‘Sunkist Island’ debuts in select export markets, simulating a California orange grove with educational touchpoints on in-season Sunkist Valencia oranges. In addition, Sunkist curated citrus-themed activities, including scavenger hunts for tools to “grow” virtual orange groves and a store filled with custom apparel.

“With everything going virtual these days, we are welcoming visitors to explore our sunny California groves in Animal Crossing from the comfort of their own homes,” said Christina Ward, Director of Global Brand Marketing at Sunkist Growers. “The fun virtual space fosters a sense of sharing, which is fundamental to our brand and cooperative and is a fun way to educate consumers on California-grown Valencia oranges.”

Summer citrus is here, and Sunkist is celebrating Valencia oranges, grapefruit and lemons at the virtual show. To keep the citrus category going strong, Sunkist recently launched ready-to-go summer citrus programs featuring point-of-sale, merchandising and marketing materials, as well as display bins.

Since its release in March, Animal Crossing has garnered more than 13 million registered users and has been one of the best-selling games so far in 2020. Ward added, “While we may all be physically apart, Sunkist is looking to bring people together virtually to share moments, share memories and enjoy the sense of community that is fundamental to our brand and how we grow.”

Visit the Sunkist booth at United Fresh LIVE! to enter to win a Nintendo Switch and an invitation to explore the ‘Sunkist Island’ on Animal Crossing.