SUNKIST: THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS

Sunkist Growers is one of the great success stories in the food industry. Founded by a group of financially strapped farmers 100 years ago, this grower-owned organization has become a billion-dollar business and created a world-class brand name.

now known as Sunkist Growers -- incorporate as a cooperative.

1907 Becomes the first farmer group to advertise a perishable product in a national campaign.

1907 Uses the Sunkist trademark for citrus fruit for the first time.

1916 Becomes the first to promote orange juice with the launch of the "Drink an Orange" campaign.

1920 Becomes the first national advertiser to mention vitamins in its ad copy.

1926 Stamps the Sunkist trademark on fresh oranges for the first time.

1930s Develops overseas export markets.

1940s Develops canned fruit juice products.

1952 Adopts the name of Sunkist Growers Inc.

1977 Licenses its trademark for the bottling and marketing of Sunkist orange soda.

1990 Tops $1 billion in revenues in a single year.

1993 Becomes the first agricultural cooperative to reach 100 consecutive years of business.