ABSTRACT
Introduction of orange culture in the Western portion of the present US was by missionaries, early in the 18th century in Arizona, and by the middle of the century in California. Sweet oranges are usually classified into four types — the common, acidless, pigmented, and navel oranges. The origin of the Valencia orange is quite obscure, possibly originating from Portugal via the Azores. In the US both California and Florida strains seem to have been supplied from the same source during the mid-19th century. The Pineapple variety originated as a chance seedling around Citra, Florida around 1860. The juice, particularly at the earliest harvests, has the least color of all Florida varieties. Initially chilled juice products were primarily distributed to restaurants and through dairy distribution channels, as dairies already had the sanitary processing equipment and the low temperature delivery systems. Effects of various rootstocks have been observed on juice yield, soluble solids, acidity, juice color, peel oil contents, and bitterness.
