Fruit Gems
 A package of Sunkist Fruit Gems | |
| Type | Pectin jelly candy |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Created by | Christopher Candy Company |
| Invented | 1930s |
Sunkist Fruit Gems are sugar-coated pectin jelly candies sold under license from Sunkist Growers. The candy was introduced in the 1930s by the Christopher Candy Company, and later produced by the Los Angeles-based Ben Myerson Candy Company. It was manufactured by Jelly Belly from 2006 until 2026.
History
The origins of Fruit Gems date to the 1930s, when an oversupply of citrus led Sunkist growers to seek uses for surplus oranges, lemons and grapefruits. Sunkist approached the Christopher Candy Company of Los Angeles to develop a confection using citrus byproducts. The resulting Christopher's Fruit Gems were subsequently sold across the United States.
The Ben Myerson Candy Company acquired the Christopher Candy Company in 1955. In 1974, the company entered into a licensing agreement with Sunkist to sell the candies under the Sunkist name. The flavors of this period consisted of orange, lemon, lime, cherry, raspberry and grapefruit.
Jelly Belly acquired the Ben Myerson Candy Company's candy-making operation in 2006. The flavor assortment was then changed to orange, lemon, lime and raspberry. In 2012, Jelly Belly relaunched Fruit Gems with natural flavors and colors in lemon, orange, grapefruit, raspberry and blueberry flavors.
Jelly Belly was acquired by the Ferrara Candy Company in 2023. Ferrara stopped selling Sunkist Fruit Gems on May 1, 2026, with a customer-service representative attributing the decision to insufficient nationwide demand.
On September 26, 2026, following publicity over the discontinuation, Sunkist announced that it had found a new manufacturer and that Fruit Gems would return with no changes to its recipe or kosher certification.
Culture
Sunkist Fruit Gems are particularly popular among Jews in North America. Their kosher certification, individual wrapping, and soft texture made them commonly used at synagogue celebrations, including bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies and aufrufs, where candy is traditionally thrown toward the celebrants.
Notes
- ↑ According to some sources, 1966.
References
- 1 2 3 4 Deitcher, Jay (September 24, 2026). "Sunkist Fruit Gems, a colorful staple of synagogue celebrations, discontinued". eJewishPhilanthropy. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
- 1 2 Tumin, Remy (September 25, 2026). "Sunkist, Sunset: Fruit Gems, a Century-Old Candy, Are Discontinued". The New York Times.
- ↑ "Jelly Belly to Purchase Ben Myerson Candy Business". CSP Daily News. October 20, 2006. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
- 1 2 "Bitter Sweet". Los Angeles Business Journal. October 29, 2006. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
- 1 2 "Sunkist Fruit Gems". Candy Blog. November 15, 2006. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010.
- ↑ "Sunkist Fruit Gems". Candy Blog. July 13, 2012. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012.
- ↑ "Ferrara Candy Compay completes the acquisition of Jelly Belly Candy Company". Ferrara Candy Company. November 30, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
- ↑ Gross, Judah Ari (September 27, 2026). "Sunkist says it will bring back beloved Fruit Gems after national outcry following eJP report". eJewishPhilanthropy. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Sunkist Reverses Course, Bringing Back Beloved Fruit Gems". CrownHeights.info. September 27, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
- ↑ Gordon, Ilana (May 12, 2021). "If You Never Had Sunkist Fruit Gems Thrown at Your Face, Did You Even Have a Bar Mitzvah?". The Takeout. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
- ↑ Wilensky, David A. M. (September 25, 2026). "In Memoriam: Mourning the death of Sunkist Fruit Gems". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
- ↑ Pashman, Manya Brachear (September 24, 2026). "A candy crisis has cast a pall on upcoming bar and bat mitzvahs". The Forward. Retrieved September 24, 2026.
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