National Orange Juice Day – May 4

Oranges, native to Southeast Asia, were introduced to the Americas by Spanish explorers. Florida, with its warm climate and fertile soil, became an ideal place for orange cultivation, and the state quickly became the leading producer of oranges in the U.S.

In the early 1900s, fresh oranges were mainly consumed by peeling and eating them, but the growing demand for orange juice prompted the need for a more convenient method. In the 1930s, the Florida Department of Citrus was established to promote Florida-grown oranges and their juice. This helped make orange juice popular across the U.S.

The real breakthrough came in the 1960s with the invention of flash pasteurization. This process involves quickly heating juice to kill bacteria without affecting flavor, allowing it to be bottled and shipped long distances. This innovation made it possible for orange juice to be consumed year-round, no longer limited by the fruit’s seasonality.

Florida became synonymous with orange juice, producing billions of pounds of oranges each year. The Florida Department of Citrus helped promote orange juice as Florida's official beverage, solidifying the state's role in the industry. Today, Florida is still a major player in orange juice production.

National Orange Juice Day emerged as a way to celebrate the beverage’s significance and the hard work behind its production. Celebrated on May 4, the day acknowledges the efforts of Florida’s orange growers and highlights the benefits of orange juice, including its vitamin C content, antioxidants, and refreshing taste.