Diamond Nuts history

In 1922, CARC changed its name to Sun-Maid Growers to link itself more explicitly with its famous logo.

1930: Expands its market and starts selling products abroad

Already smarting from the worldwide depression, California Prune and Apricot took another heavy blow in 1933 when the German government banned imported fruit.

In 1934, the cooperative joined with fruit juice company Duffy-Mott to produce and market Sunsweet prune juice.

1956: CWGA changes its name to Diamond Walnut Growers.

1974: Diamond Walnut and Sunsweet band together to form Diamond/Sunsweet.

The marketing partnership born in 1980 was dissolved in August of that year, leaving Diamond on its own.

Sun-Diamond continued to expand, adding a relatively small cooperative, Hazelnut Growers of Oregon, to its ranks in 1984.

In August of that year, an accounting review found that Diamond Walnut had over-reported its profits for fiscal 1985 by $4.7 million, distributing more money to its member growers than it should have.

By 1994, Fannie May and Fannie Farmer Candies, Godiva Chocolates, Dreyers Ice Cream, Nabisco, and Quaker Oats refused to buy from Diamond Walnuts.

In 1998, it broadened its product line and began selling a full line of culinary and in-shell nuts.

Espy was eventually acquitted, however, and the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reversed its conviction against Sun-Diamond in 1999.

Nabisco Holdings Corp. owned Planters Nuts until Kraft purchased Nabisco in 2000.

In 2002, it launched a glazed snack nut line.

In 2003 ad agency Foote Cone & Belding created commercials for Planters that depicted the brand's mascot, Mr.

Up until 2004 Planters had packaged its nuts inside cans and bags.

The "Emerald Nuts Marketing Campaign" also garnered a gold EFFIE in 2005.

2006: Acquires some assets of Harmony Foods for $18 million and enters the snack-food business

2010: Acquires Kettle Foods Inc, a potato chip company from Lion Capital for $615 million