America loves OJ but do consumers know the origin of their orange juice?
BARTOW, Fla. – It should come as no surprise that America loves orange juice.
Americans drink close to a billion gallons of orange juice every year and more people purchase orange juice than any other 100 percent fruit juice on the market.
But do Americans know where their orange juice comes from?
Florida supplies more than half of the orange juice Americans drink each year. But not every carton of OJ has roots in U.S. soil.
It’s not always easy to decipher origin labels on food. To help distinguish between orange juice hailing from Floridaand the rest of the world, the Florida Department of Citrus launched a new program this fall to spotlight 100% Florida Orange Juice.
FindFloridaOJ.com provides a solution for those with a desire to know more about where their orange juice comes from.
Designed for use on mobile or desktop, the website allows users to snap a photograph of the UPC code on any bottle of orange juice and instantly learn whether it hails from Florida.
As part of the program, consumers who purchase 100% Florida Orange Juice can receive $1 coupon offers in select stores and markets for a limited time.
“As more Americans desire to know the origins of their food, it’s only natural for us to connect 100% Florida Orange Juice with those who value our homegrown roots,” said Shannon Shepp, interim executive director of the FDOC. “This program allows us to educate consumers and help them make choices that are right for their families.”
Florida’s unique, sandy soil and subtropical climate enable growers to produce the world’s best-tasting and juiciest oranges, ideally suited for the 100 percent juice market. In fact, about 90 percent of Florida’s oranges are squeezed for juice and Florida is second only toBrazil in production of oranges.
Well over half of all U.S. homes already include orange juice in the choices they make, and an 8-ounce glass of 100% orange juice delivers essential vitamins and nutrients to support good health – and does so with no added sugar. In addition, a single serving of 100% orange juice counts as almost one quarter of the USDA-recommended daily fruit and vegetable intake, based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
