FCOJ, A Game Changer  – 1948

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Florida growers have been shipping the juice of the fruit at least since the 1770’s!  Check out the story of Jesse Fish back in 1763.  Records note Jesse was sending barrels of orange juice to London in the 1770’s!  Wonder how it tasted after a month at sea?  As early as 1915 Florida was putting juice in a can.  This product often developed a metallic taste even though it was pasteurized!  In 1931 Dr. Phillips developed flash pasteurization which eliminated the problem.  This ‘improved’ orange juice greatly expanded the market for ‘processed’ juice.

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During WWII soldiers would not drink the powered citrus that was converted into ‘juice’.  Thus, the federal government worked with and encouraged Florida scientists to develop a palatable citrus juice..  A team effort with Drs. McDowell, Atkins and Moore, Florida Department of Citrus scientists stationed at the University of Florida research station in Lake Alfred and Dr. Matthew Veldhuis, a USDA scientist in Winter Haven, produced a fantastic product – frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) which revolutionized Florida citrus.  A patent for the product was issued in 1948 and by 1950 Florida produced 10 million gallons of FCOJ.  Juice plants were constructed and thousands and thousands of acres of citrus were planted to supply fruit to be processed into FCOJ.  OJ became the standard breakfast drink.  Simply thaw a can of concentrated juice, add 3 cans of water, mix and a delicious pitcher of Florida orange juice was on the breakfast table.

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Over time improvements were made in response to consumer demand.  Soon orange juice was in a container that was ready to serve, no thaw and mixing (that was done for you by the manufacturer).  Next to arrive was a product that was pasteurized, but not concentrated.  This is known as NFC (not from concentrate).  Once again, simply open the container and serve.

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FCOJ skyrocketed Florida into being the leader of processed orange juice.  Over 90% of all Florida citrus was processed.  The key step of FCOJ  was addition of actual orange juice to the processed product thus adding missing flavor.  Processors produced flavor ‘packs’  from captured oiIs and other juice components.  However, the juice was, and will aways be, a 100% natural product; delicious and nutritionous.  Continue to enjoy this fantastic product every day!