Since its launch last autumn the Love Irish Food advertising campaign has generated a high level of positive publicity and feedback from the general public. Its back in the public eye again through the month of March with Super promotions in stores, massive radio & TV coverage & great recipes & competitions on the website.(www.loveirishfood.ie) You can also log on to download discount coupons of certain products from the fantastic brands invloved in the Love irish Foods Initative.

Just what attracts people to drink this juice each and every day? For many, it’s merely the excellent taste that gets the morning off to a good start (especially if its delicious Sqeez orange juice ) Others note that they enjoy both the good taste and the nutritional advantages that consuming orange juice provides. 

The History of Orange Juice – contd

Oranges have been growing in Southeast Asia and China for approximately 4,000 years. According to historians, the orange made its way to Africa and the Middle East within the next five centuries and eventually came to Europe during the Arab occupancy of Spain (about 700 to 1400 AD). Explorers brought them to the New World in the 15th and 16th centuries, and by the 1800s, Florida had a burgeoning orange industry.

By the 1890s, oranges and orange juice grew in popularity when it was discovered that the fruit contained a wealth of Vitamin C. Doctors knew that Vitamin C would help stave off a very menacing disease of that time – scurvy.

The commercial orange juice industry arose in the 1920s and consumption of OJ began to increase in leaps and bounds, especially when pasteurization techniques and new canning processes improved in the 1930s. Orange juice now tasted better and was safer to drink.

Frozen concentrate was invented near the end of World War II and for four decades was the best-selling orange juice on the market. Its popularity helped spur the growth of the Florida orange industry.

Today orange juice is ever popular & available in a range of variants. Other flavours have also become increasing popular such as apple variants, pineapple, grapefruit & tropical, buts that’s all for history lesson number 3

  History of Orange Juice

 OJ wasn’t always a breakfast drink like it is today. In the mid 1910s there was an overproduction of citrus fruits in California. The OJ growers didn’t know what to do with the fruit and didn’t see another option but to destroy 30% of its trees. At that time, people didn’t have a fridge yet, so if they used the crop for juicing, the juice would only last for a day before it would start to rot.

 However, at the same time, pasteurization was discovered and the national railway system was completed. Now, the growers of the citrus could juice their oranges, pasteurize them for longer storage and then ship the juice to the big cities. This is when the OJ was first mass produced and mass marketed.

The history of orange juice is also important for the American culture. The drink started to play an important roll in the Americanisation of breakfast. The orange juice replaced the more British breakfast of stewed fruit.

 Santa Loves Oranges

 What do Santa and Oranges have in common? Santa Claus originates from his Dutch “brother” Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas is celebrated in the Netherlands at Dec 5. Like Santa, he brings the children presents AND oranges!

 Oranges are a symbol of the Dutch Santa. Between 1568 and 1648 there was a war between Spain and the Netherlands (the Spanish War). The trade between these countries never stopped however. In that time, Spain was rich and had many luxury articles and goodies. The Dutch exchanged gold and silver for spices and oranges. Sinterklaas was also the Saint protecting the sailors who in that time brought the oranges from Spain to the Netherlands. When the Dutch came to the US they brought their Sinterklaas, who later was Americanized into Santa.

 Royal Oranges

 Oranges are also a symbol and the last name of the Dutch Queen. The Dutch queen got her last name from the little city Orange in France. Once a princedom that was inherited by the Dutch Royal Family. The Dutch Royalties owned this princedom between 1530 – 1702. For many years, this city was the center of the orange trade. This explains also where the French and English word orange comes from.

The Botanical name for orange is ‘Citrus Sinensis’, which translates as Chinese apple.

Every single year there are approximately 900 billion oranges harvested around the world.

Oranges contain Vitamins A and C: Vitamin A helps in the formation of healthy teeth and skin. It is also known as retinol, and promotes good vision, especially in dim light. Vitamin C promotes healthy teeth and gums, helps in the absorption of iron, aids in the maintenance of normal connective tissue, and promotes wound healing.

Sqeez orange juice 1ltr contains at least 15 oranges per carton. It really is the healthier way to start your day:)