The Story Behind Florida Orange Juice

The words “Florida” and “orange” go hand in hand. It is the sunshine state that produces an amazing variety of sweet tasting citrus. Purists the world over will only drink orange juice if they know it was made from Florida oranges. As they do with practically everything, the United States government has stepped in to define exactly what orange juice is. According to the ominous sounding Code of Federal Regulations, orange juice is “unfermented juice obtained from mature oranges of the species Citrus sinensis or of the citrus hybrid commonly called Ambersweet.” Of course most people just think about squeezing a Florida orange and calling it juice!

Different Kinds of Florida Orange Juice

There are three basic kinds of Florida orange juice that are available on the market today: frozen, reconstituted or not from concentrate. Frozen orange juice can be called the “back and forth” kind of juice. It starts out as pure Florida orange juice then is squeeze into concentrate that is then frozen and packed into small cans. From that frozen concentrate, customers dilute it to make the juice. It’s quick, simple and can be stored in your freezer for a long time. It’s also the cheapest form of Florida orange juice.

The reconstituted orange juice was once concentrated juice but was diluted with other additives and flavors then packaged in bottles and cartons. No mixing is needed with this type of Florida orange juice. It’s ready to go right from the carton.
The purest form of Florida orange juice is the NFC or not from concentrate. This is the ready to drink kind that you either see being made right in front of you or is clearly stated on the label. You’ll probably get the freshest burst of flavor out of this variety of Florida orange juice.

Florida Orange Juice History

As long as there have been oranges, there has been orange juice. Oranges actually started out in Southeast Asia and were then brought to Europe. The Spaniards, who discovered and explored Florida, brought the oranges with them and it’s been the number one crop ever since. Although Florida orange juice was always a tasty treat, it wasn’t until the late 1890s when doctors realized drinking orange juice could stop scurvy in its tracks. That’s when gulping down juice made from Florida oranges really kicked into high gear.

In the early days of the Florida orange juice industry, the juice makers were just using all the undesirable oranges for their product. These were all the bruised or misshapen pieces of fruit that couldn’t be sold at supermarkets. Today that’s called “organic” and fetches a very hefty price! It wasn’t until 1944 when scientists developed a method to concentrate Florida orange juice in a vacuum then freeze the concentrate. Frozen Florida orange juice was born and has been a staple in every American home ever since.

Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves

At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.

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