History

Our Growth from 1950 to Today

Paramount Citrus’s history of growth and innovation has developed the company into the largest fresh citrus grower in the western United States. Everyone involved with Paramount Citrus has contributed a great amount of effort and diligence, giving us a reputation for being the best.

Here is a brief summary of our history:

1950

  • Lou Ghiz founded Paramount Citrus in 1950 with the objective of giving independent orange growers an opportunity to market the juice as well as the fruit outside of the Sunkist Cooperative. The orange juice was sold under the CAL FAME brand.
  • In 1957, Mr. Ghiz and other investors, including the then president of Capitol Records, began the Navel and Valencia orange farming operation.

1960

  • By 1966 Mr. Ghiz along with other investors had approximately 1,000 acres in production.
    CAL FAME Game Show

1970

  • By the mid-1970s, the CAL FAME orange juice operation had been phased out.
    CAL FAME

1980

  • In 1981, the company was bought by Stewart and Lynda Resnick. Stewart and Lynda remain the sole owners today, with Stewart as the CEO.

1990

  • In 1990, the company joined the Sunkist Growers marketing cooperative, becoming its largest member.

2000

  • In the spring of 2000, the company began planting its Clementine mandarins.
  • In the fall of 2000, Paramount executed the largest acquisition to date in the California citrus industry by buying the fresh citrus operations of Dole Food Company. The acquisition pushed Paramount to represent 20% of the Sunkist Cooperative.
  • In 2004, the company began selling its Clementines under the California Cuties™ brand. California Cuties are sold and marketed through a joint venture with Sun Pacific.
  • In 2006, Paramount Citrus began marketing its citrus varieties under the Paramount Citrus brands.