Though peak citrus season in the U.S. is typically during the fall and winter, lemons and limes maintain strong, consistent demand year-round, says Cassie Howard, senior director of category management and marketing for Valencia, Calif.-based Sunkist Growers Inc.
“During the spring and summer months, usage often shifts more toward beverages, grilling and fresh applications, which helps support steady retail movement,” Howard explains.
Zak Laffite, president of Los Angeles-based Wonderful Citrus, agrees.
Consumption of lemons and limes increases during the warmer months, but sales remain steady year-round thanks to a variety of usage occasions across all seasons, he says.
Howard cited Circana data indicating that lemon volume increased 8% last spring over the previous year, making springtime an important selling period for lemons and a key opportunity for seasonal promotions at retail.
Strong Quality
Quality of lemons and limes is strong this season, with good color, firmness and juice content, Howard says.
“Fruit size is generally in line with expectations, allowing retailers to maintain a range of pack sizes and merchandising options depending on their programs,” she says.
Lemon prices are trending higher than last year because of an earlier-than-usual transition from the desert lemon crop, which was running two to three weeks ahead of schedule.
“Overall, the California lemon market is stronger than last year, supported by both volume and demand,” Howard says.
Laffite says the quality and sizing of this season’s crop of Wonderful Seedless Lemons also has been positive.
“It has been a strong year for Wonderful Seedless Lemons with year-round availability, favorable fruit sizing that skews slightly larger than normal, and distribution in some of the biggest retailers in America,” he says.
U.S., Mexico Sourcing
Wonderful Seedless Lemons are currently grown in Southern and Central California, as well as in Mexico.
“We continue to strengthen our operations in Mexico, with significant advancements in both Wonderful Seedless Lemons and conventional limes,” Laffite says. “These efforts enhance our ability to bridge seasonal gaps and maintain a consistent supply, complementing our California production.”
The company also partners with growers in South Africa for Wonderful Seedless Lemons.
Sunkist sources its lemons from California and Arizona and procures limes through a global supply network, primarily from Mexico, Howard says.
USDA reports California’s 2024 volume at 51.1 million boxes and 2025 at 53.8 million boxes.
The estimate for lemons in 2026 is 53.9 million boxes, but California Citrus Mutual says most shippers expect that number to increase.
Lime Imports
Most limes sold in the U.S. are imported from Mexico, and Pharr, Texas-based Medrano Produce LLC is a big importer of those limes, says Franco Medrano, vice president of marketing and sales.
Limes have become increasingly mainstream in the U.S., driven by the growing influence of Latino culture and by consumers discovering their zesty flavor and versatility, he says.
Demand for limes during the spring and summer months has increased significantly in recent years, he says, and the volume of imported limes has risen.
A few years ago, 400 to 500 loads a week would supply the U.S. market, he says. Today, that number has risen to 500 to 600 loads.
Supplies were tight this February and March, he says, but that pattern was expected to change.
“Once we hit April and May, there should be an influx of limes, because that’s when the crops will be ready to harvest for the spring,” Medrano says.
Limes tend to take some of the market share from lemons, especially during the summer, because of their lower price point, he adds.
Sunkist’s lime supply is expected to remain relatively stable this season, supported by consistent sourcing from key growing regions, Howard says. Pricing is elevated because of tighter supplies, she adds.
Organic Sales Steady
Sales of organic limes have been steady, Medrano says, but the current market was tight, he said in late March.
“There’s not a lot of organics out there,” he says.
Organic lemons and limes are a small but important part of Sunkist’s citrus portfolio, Howard says.
“Organic citrus sales remain steady, with continued interest from consumers seeking organic options,” she says.
