Pasadena Company Donates 2.5 Million of Its Popular “Cuties” Mandarin Oranges to Healthcare Workers

A Pasadena-based major California fruit grower will start delivering millions of mandarins to hospital workers at 28 hospitals today, including Huntington Memorial.

Sun Pacific, which operates large packaging plants near its farms in the San Joaquin Valley and in Exeter, said from its main office on Green Street in Pasadena that it will start delivering Cuties brand Mandarin oranges on Thursday to healthcare workers battling the coronavirus pandemic in Southern California.

The company said it is donating 2.5 million Mandarins – in 100,000 31-pound bags – which equates to roughly $500,000, to frontliners at Southern California hospitals.

“We are overwhelmingly thankful for all their hard work and fearless efforts in fighting this global pandemic,” Sun Pacific said in a statement.

The list of hospitals receiving the citrus snacks also includes Cedars- Sinai Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, UCLA Harbor Hospital, USC Hospital Verdugo Hills in Glendale, and Arcadia Methodist Hospital, the statement said.

Sun Pacific was established in 1969 when Berne Evans purchased 72 acres of orange groves in the San Joaquin Valley.

Evans had a vision: to cultivate the fertile California land to create specialty crops that could be sold across North America and worldwide. His vision led to unprecedented innovation in the citrus category.

Sun Pacific now produces brands such as Cuties clementines and Mandarins, Mighties brand kiwi, Air Chief brand navel and Valencia oranges, lemons, and table grapes, and Vintage Sweets brand heirloom navel oranges.

For more information, visit www.sunpacific.com and www.cutiescitrus.com.