Sunkist Fruit Gems Are Coming Back!

By Howie Silbiger

Call off the alarm! Sunkist Fruit Gems are coming back!

Sunkist Citrus says it has been working with a new family owned candy maker to revive the little sugar covered discs that have spent decades as a welcomed guest at Jewish events.

Ferrara Candy Company discontinued Sunkist Fruit Gems on May 1 citing a global lack of interest in the candy. Sales were down and the company said that other candies could be produced in its stead. This did not sit well with the Jewish community whom relied on these candies for nearly every religious and life cycle event.

Panic filled social media posts as supplies started to dwindle. Mothers wondering what they should buy instead for son’s bar mitzvah, others worried that synagogue events may be a little less sweet.

Sunkist Citrus heard the fear and understood that there is a very loyal market for the candy. Through a social media post Sunkist says the candies will return with the same flavour, quality and kosher certification. That should spare us the grim prospect of a substitute candy that looks close enough in the bowl but disappoints the moment someone takes a bite. The company has not named its new manufacturer, though it has clearly been briefed on the importance of getting this right.

There is no return date yet. Sunkist says Fruit Gems remain temporarily unavailable and it hopes to have them back on shelves “very soon.”

Until then, please remain calm and do not pay collector’s prices for a bag of candy you used to get for free at shul.