Home / Business and Economy / Sweet Farewell: Beloved Sunkist Fruit Gems Discontinued
Sweet Farewell: Beloved Sunkist Fruit Gems Discontinued
25 Sep
Summary
- Sunkist Fruit Gems, a bar/bat mitzvah tradition, are being discontinued.
- Ferrara cites Jelly Belly relaunch as reason for discontinuation.
- A replacement candy, Clever Candy Fruit Jelly Jewels, is available.
Sunkist Fruit Gems, a candy deeply intertwined with bar and bat mitzvah celebrations for decades, are being discontinued by their manufacturer, Ferrara. This news has sparked dismay among those who cherished the tradition of pelting the brightly colored fruit jellies during services.
The Chicago-based candy company, which also owns Jelly Belly, cited a strategic decision to narrow its product line to better focus on consumer demands and brand innovation, particularly in relation to a Jelly Belly relaunch. This move has left many, including candy store owners who sell the gems in bulk for such events, searching for alternatives.
Originally developed in the 1930s by the Christopher Candy Company to utilize surplus citrus from Sunkist growers, the gems used pectin and natural citrus oils. The candy's popularity grew through subsequent ownerships, including the Ben Myerson Candy Company, known for hand-sanding them with sugar. Jelly Belly acquired Myerson's in 2006, and Ferrara later purchased Jelly Belly in 2023.
While Ferrara has ended production, the demand for a suitable replacement persists. Nassau Candy has introduced Clever Candy Fruit Jelly Jewels, explicitly marketed as an alternative for bar and bat mitzvahs, aiming to replicate the taste and function of the original Sunkist Fruit Gems.
