Our History

Now a successful year-round operation, Bee Sweet ships throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and several Pacific Rim countries including Japan. We have become a trusted brand for all citrus commodities, and still offer personal customer service and a heartfelt commitment to each of our growers and buyers.

With a product list that includes Navel and Valencia oranges, lemons, grapefruit, mandarins – and exotic specialties like Minneola Tangelos and Pummelos – Bee Sweet Citrus offers the freshest, best-tasting citrus in California, with the service and availability you demand.

Jim Marderosian graduates with a B.S. in Business Administration as a dual-alumnus from Fresno State and California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. 1979 Marderosian and Alan Derderian begin working with citrus - selling fruit at local produce stands and swap meets. 1980 Marderosian and Derderian officially open Bee Sweet Citrus, Inc. in Fowler, CA. 1987 Bee Sweet Citrus relocates to current packing facility in Fowler. 1996 Bee Sweet Citrus forms long-term operations contract with a new citrus packing house in Imperial Valley. 2008 Bee Sweet Citrus installs a new lemon washline at its packing facility. 2018 Bee Sweet Citrus builds new washline in Nipomo, CA to combat the threat of the Asian Citrus Psyllid. 2020 Bee Sweet Citrus begins construction of new, state-of-the-art mandarin facility. 2022 Bee Sweet Citrus utilizes new mandarin facility to increase efficiency and establish a better work-life balance for employees. 2023 Our facility now spans 750,000 sq. feet and allows for numerous varieties to be conveniently picked up at one location. 2025

Meet the

Bee Sweet Team

Frequently Asked Questions

1Are Bee Sweet Citrus products California Grown?
Bee Sweet’s citrus domestic season begins in October and ends in June for most varieties. During those months, you can be sure that our fruit is being harvested in California. Throughout the summer season, however, we import fruit from Chile to ensure our customers have access to fresh citrus year-round.
2How do you ensure that each piece of citrus is fresh and of the highest quality?
All of our lines include state-of-the-art optical graders to ensure that each piece of fruit meets our standards in quality. Our quality control team and hand graders further inspect the fruit for defects before it’s packed and shipped to our consumers.
3What does Bee Sweet Citrus do to ensure food safety?
At Bee Sweet Citrus, food safety is our top priority. Both our groves and our packing facility undergo annual third-party food safety audits where we not only meet, but exceed, standards in food safety.

By adhering to standards set by GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) and the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), we can assure our consumers that our citrus is safe for consumption. We also utilize a GTIN (Global Trade Identification Number) system that allows us to trace each carton of fruit back to the grove in which it was grown.
4Are your farming practices environmentally friendly?
Bee Sweet Citrus strives to be environmentally friendly at every stage of production. On our groves, we utilize efficient irrigation methods to achieve maximum water conservation and work to maintain a fleet of efficient tractors and semis. In the packing house, we utilize skylights, VFDs, and LED lighting to conserve electricity, and we’ve installed solar panels on our rooftops to help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

By adhering to standards set by GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) and the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), we can assure our consumers that our citrus is safe for consumption. We also utilize a GTIN (Global Trade Identification Number) system that allows us to trace each carton of fruit back to the grove in which it was grown.
5What should I look for when purchasing citrus?
When buying citrus, choose product that feels heavy and firm; avoid fruit that feels soft. Keep in mind that skin color is not an indicator of flavor or ripeness – oranges with greenish hues are just as flavorful as those that are bright in color.
6How do I store my citrus once purchased?
Storing citrus on the counter will keep it fresh for up to one week, but storing it in the refrigerator will extend its shelf life for two to three weeks!