What You Need To Know About OJ

Orange Juice (OJ) is the best known and most popular raw food drink. It's known for it's vitamin C content and great when you have a cold. But OJ is much more! Here you'll read about the history of orange juice and other fun facts.

Today many people drink OJ for breakfast. In Europe, many hotels and restaurants serve it freshly juiced. It's a symbol of a quality restaurant.

History of Orange Juice

I find the history of orange juice fun. OJ was'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 luxuary articles and goodies. The Dutch exchanged gold and silver for spices and oranges. Sinterklaas was also the Saint protecting the sailers 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. So you see, in his old days, Santa loved oranges! With his history of orange.
Oranges for the Royal Family

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.

If you are looking for the perfect citrus for yourself or as a gift for a business associates, your family or friends? A quick visit to sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We sell only the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

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Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391