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History of Citrus

Peel away the thin, slick, “easy-to-peel skin,” of any our fruit, taste a section, and you’ll discover the juiciest, sweetest, most delicious citrus fruit found anywhere on earth.

History of Citrus

Citrus has been farmed commercially in Florida since the mid-1800s. The first citrus was brought to the New World in 1493 by Christopher Columbus. In the mid-1500s one of the early Spanish explorers, most likely Ponce de Leon, planted the first orange trees around St. Augustine, Florida.

Florida's unique sandy soil and subtropical climate proved to be ideal for growing the seeds that the early settlers planted and have flourished ever since. Today it is a $9.3 billion industry, employing over 76,000 Floridians.

Health Benefits of Citrus

Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice three times a day "can cause the pounds to drop." Various grapefruit diets have been around for decades, but for the first time the health industry has scientific proof that eating grapefruit spurs weight loss.
• Studies have shown that eating Citrus and Drinking Orange Juice can cut the risk of stroke by nearly a third

Recent studies have reported a direct link between the nutrients found in citrus fruit and reducing cancer risk:
• Researchers at the National Cancer Institute have long maintained that a low-fat diet high in vitamin C-rich foods may help reduce the risk of some types of cancer.

AskDrSears.com says, “Kids love the taste of pure fruit juice, and parents love it because it’s a healthy source of nutrients.” The website also states “Go with citrus juices. Orange juice is a morning favorite and one of the most nutritious beverages available. An excellent source of vitamin C and potassium, orange juice also is a good source of folate and thiamin. Compared to other juices, orange juice is higher in protein, vitamin A, B-vitamins, vitamin C (it contains more than 10 times as much vitamin C as apple juice), calcium, iron and potassium, making it a heavyweight among fruit juices. Drinking an 8-ounce glass will count as one of your five necessary fruit and vegetable servings for the day.

The American Cancer Society announced on November 16, 1995 that it will team up with the Florida Department of Citrus to educate consumers about the relationship between a healthy diet, including Florida Orange Juice, and reducing the risk of cancer.

• The American Cancer Society states, “Florida orange juice, as part of a healthy diet, helps in the fight against cancer."

Florida grapefruit is the first fresh produce to get the American Heart Association's seal of approval because of its benefit to a healthy diet. "This is a risk-free product and is a great addition to the diet," said Larry Joyce, vice president of corporate relations for the AHA. "There is no fat and no cholesterol, and we want people to be aware of that." Grapefruit juice will also get the symbol -- a heart with a check in it. Grapefruit contains 10 grams of dietary fiber, more than double the fiber in a serving of the top 20 fruits and vegetables, according to Lisa Whidden, a registered nurse and heart association volunteer.

• Florida grapefruit and 100% pure Florida grapefruit juice are certified as part of a heart-healthy diet." - American Heart Association

According to recent research, a low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables like Florida citrus fruit and their juices juice, may help fight against heart disease:

• The Food and Drug Administration has concluded that diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease, FDA also has concluded that low fat diets high in fruits and vegetables containing fiber, including soluble fiber, may reduce the at risk of heart disease. Florida citrus fruit and their juices are fat and cholesterol-free and citrus fruit like oranges and grapefruit are high in fiber.

The March of Dimes has also joined forces with Florida Citrus Growers to help prevent birth defects. Studies show that birth defects may be influenced by the mother's diet, especially the amount of folic acid she consumes. Orange juice is an excellent source of folic acid, and more women get their folic acid from orange juice than any other natural food/beverage.

"Adequate Folic acid, the B vitamin in orange juice, may reduce the risk of certain birth defects." - March of Dimes

Research shows that women of childbearing age who eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables containing folate may decrease the risk of having children with birth defects:

• According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), women of childbearing age can dramatically reduce the risk of having a child with these birth defects by consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables to maintain adequate levels of folate (the most frequently consumed dietary source of folate is orange juice). Since most neural tube birth defects occur in the first six to eight weeks after conception, it is important that women of childbearing age consume adequate daily levels of folate before, and soon after, they become pregnant.

• The old saying, "you are what you eat," has taken on a whole new meaning. There is a growing body of medical research that supports the health benefits of antioxidants such as vitamin C, as well as folate, dietary fiber (including soluble fiber), and other vitamins and minerals found in Florida citrus.

Eating citrus fruits and drinking an eight-ounce glass of orange juice daily may help prevent kidney stones, a painful and unpredictable disease that strikes more than 600,000 Americans each year.

Grapefruit Seed Extract Information: Discovered in 1972 by Dr. Jacob Harich, a physicist, grapefruit seed extract (GSE) has been used all over the world for the better health of people, plants and animals. It is used in food and cosmetics, for skin care, animal health and surface cleaning. Grapefruit extract is also non-toxic, environmentally safe, and quickly bio-degradable. It causes no side effects and is often dramatically less expensive than existing treatments or chemicals for similar applications, whether human, animal, or agricultural in scope. Your satisfaction is guaranteed, unconditionally.

Citrus Products
Florida growers produce several types of citrus, including oranges, grapefruit and specialty fruit including Temple oranges, tangerines and tangelos.

The most commonly grown varieties of Florida oranges are Navel, Hamlin, Pineapple, Ambersweet and Valencia. The fresh orange season typically runs from October through June.

The most commonly grown varieties of Florida grapefruit are Ruby Red, Flame, Thompson, Marsh and Duncan. The fresh grapefruit season typically runs from September through June.
Florida producers grow a handful of specialty fruit which are in season from October through April.

Acreage and Growing Areas

In Florida, there are about 576,000 acres of citrus groves and more than 75 million citrus trees. Most citrus is grown in the southern two-thirds of the Florida peninsula, where there is low probability for a freeze. After a series of freezes in the 1980s, citrus growers gradually migrated southward from central and northern regions, although Polk County in the Central part of the state remains the top citrus producing county.