In the early days of packaged orange juice, producers struggled to find a way to transport it across the country without spoiling. In the 1940s, scientists discovered that by removing the liquid, they could make frozen orange juice concentrate, which was the perfect format to ship WWII soldiers their daily dose of vitamin C (via the National Museum of American History).
Besides its affordability, frozen orange juice concentrate is nutrient-dense, though it lacks the fiber found in whole fruit and often contains added sugar and preservatives (via Healthline). As such, it began to lose popularity in the 1980s due to the emergence of non-concentrated orange juice, which was believed to be healthier, Vice explains.
As The Wall Street Journal reported in 2016, declining consumer demand for frozen orange juice concentrate, diseases affecting orange tree growth, and problematic crop-destroying weather conditions have contributed to a reduction in the number of producers. Americans drank less orange juice in 2015 than any year, and Florida groves had record orange production that year. Additionally, consumers continue to prioritize fresh juice, drinking 19 million gallons per month versus 1.4 million from frozen concentrate.
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