It started back in October 1925 when a small group of like-minded California citrus growers came together to form Exeter Citrus Association. They joined together to produce a cooperative for the purpose of picking, packing, and selling their citrus. The Association was fortunate to have started with some of the highest quality growers and some of the best citrus farming grounds in the world. Over the years, membership has grown as well as the different citrus varieties.  We currently pack Navels, Late Navels, Valencias, Cara Caras, Minneolas, Pummelos, Bloods, and Lemons. Exeter Citrus Association has always been recognized as an industry leader in effecting advancements in technology and automation. 

We’ve highlighted some of those achievements and milestones below:

1954 – Among the first packing houses to convert from wood to cardboard cartons.

1960 – One of the first to convert from wood field boxes to bins.  Introduced field cranes and straddle carriers for transport from grove to packing house.

1970 – Installed first two Sunkist automatic packing machines on an experimental basis for R&D.  They proved so successful, ECA went to automation the next year.

1970 – Installed and pioneered the development of the first Sunkist Electro-Mechanical grading machine in SJ Valley with x-ray units for frost elimination.  

1985 – Installed new concept Sunkist Electro-Mechanical sizing machine for greater accuracy and improved utilization.

1987 – Increased output versatility with the addition of an automatic bagging machine and automated fruit delivery and holding system.

2000 – Seventy-five years after our formation, we merged with Ivanhoe Citrus Association and officially became known as Exeter-Ivanhoe Citrus Association. 

2006 – Installed a MAF Industries automatic carton palletizer at the Exeter facility.  Palletizing speed and efficiency were increased, labor costs decreased, and worker’s comp injuries were reduced. 

2012 – We finished a complete rebuild and modernization of our packline at our Exeter facility.  The remodel greatly increased efficiency and enabled us to better respond to our customer’s needs with brix exports, high packs, flat packs, stickering, RPC’s, and many others.

2017 – We purchased the Earlibest facility, our third packing house, from LoBue Bros, Inc.  The purchase enabled us to better manage our overtime/double-time hours and process our multiple varieties more efficiently.  

2021 – Top of the line, Compac electronic grader and sizer were installed at our Earlibest facility.  This equipment will increase our throughput and efficiencies, as well as substantially reduce labor costs.  This upgrade also allowed us to add Lemons to our product line.