The LTD label was started in the San Joaquin Valley near the town of Reedley in California. It was Mr. Don Jost who decided that he wished to give consumers a perfect piece of fruit. He wanted to replicate as closely as possible the experience of picking a piece of ripe fruit in an orchard in California and eating it out of hand.

A group of like-minded growers joined him and so the LTD brand was established. The first box of LTD fruit was shipped in 1969. The LTD label is sold and distributed by the Giumarra Companies.

In order to provide the consumer with a ripe and juicy piece of fruit, we manage our growing and harvesting operations in a manner that has not changed since we first started doing business.

Our orchards are picked four to six times in order to ensure that we harvest our fruit at the optimum maturity. The fruit's appearance, color and flavor, help us determine the correct time for harvest.

LTD fruit may stay on the tree for as long as three to five days beyond what might considered the "regular" harvest point. It is during the last few days on the tree the fruit grows fastest and acquires the most flavor and sweetness. The LTD method of harvesting ensures that the fruit is mature and as sweet as possible when it reaches the consumer.

The fruit is picked into totes and transported to the packing shed where it is packed according to customer requirements. The LTD tree ripe fruit is pre-cooled with forced air and shipped from our cold storage facility in Reedley. The pre-cooling together with greater care in packing enhances shelf life.