SUN BELLE and GREEN BELLE are leading brands of premium quality conventional and organic blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, golden berries, cranberries, pomegranate arils, and red currants. Sun Belle LLC operates five distribution centers nationally, including Schiller Park, Illinois; Jessup, Maryland; Oxnard, California; Miami, Florida; and Laredo, Texas. The company is recognized for its commitment and exceptional service to customers, dedication to quality and freshness, expert handling, the introduction of new berry varieties, and the ability to fulfill mixed berry programs.
From a young age, Sun Belle founder and CEO Janice Honigberg developed a keen interest in other countries and cultures, particularly Latin America. Through her education and early work experience in international trade and agribusiness, Janice conceived the idea of a marketing company from a macro-economic perspective.
Since day one, Sun Belle’s core values have embodied the idea of being a force for good:
People-first Philosophy: Founded in 1986 with a vision of excellence, Sun Belle has carved out a distinctive role in the fresh produce industry to “bridge the gap” in representing growers to retailers. This positioning has allowed the company to stay relevant and thrive. At its core, Sun Belle commits to providing direct access to markets and ensuring fair pricing for growers, principally in North and South America, thereby fostering a more equitable and sustainable agricultural ecosystem. Sun Belle's growth over the years has had a significant positive impact in providing many thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the countries it sources from, especially Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, and Chile. In turn, a community of industry-related companies (packaging materials, transportation, irrigation and greenhouse technologies, etc.) has developed to serve the needs of the growers in these communities, resulting in more economic benefits for these agricultural areas.
Innovation and Excellence: Sun Belle maintains its competitive edge through top-notch breeding programs – both in house and through university partnerships -- ensuring access to superior fruit varietals and 52-week availability. The company’s commitment to innovation, research, and development is also reflected in its installation of a rooftop and ground solar array system, including a pollinator meadow, in its Jessup, Maryland operation as well as continued pursuit of novel and sustainable packaging.
Quality and Efficiency: Sun Belle distinguishes itself in the market by focusing on delivering the highest-quality, flavorful fruit. This dedication is evident through stringent quality control measures and efficient fulfillment systems, including the operation of five U.S. distributions centers that accept and inspect the fruit from the farms before going to retail. A key benefit of this system is the consolidation and streamlining of freight – intermediary stops and cross docking are minimized, saving on fuel and transport miles, and fruit arrives to consumers faster and fresher, minimizing food waste.
Health and Wellness: Sun Belle offers the nutritional value of its products, promoting them as healthy options for consumers seeking to improve their diet and overall well-being. Beyond the premium product brought to market, through participation in dietitian programs and increased social media activity, Sun Belle has instilled an added focus on educating and inspiring consumers with recipes, tips, and ideas for incorporating berries into their everyday lives. This helps bring nutrition to the forefront in a way that is easy, convenient, delicious, and fun.
In Janice’s own words: “Sun Belle strives to be excellent in everything we do. Our label says ‘premium’ and ‘trusted’ for a reason.”
CONTACT INFORMATION
Ken Hopps | Business Development | Sun Belle LLC
3810 Rose Street | Schiller Park, IL 60176
708.343.4545 (office) | 312.259.0220 (cell)
khopps@sun-belle.com
