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A
rich heritage of entrepreneurial spirit
The development of the orange juice industry is a chronicle
of the history of early pioneering Florida families. Dr.
Howell Tyson Lykes and L.C. Edwards, Sr. braved the heat
and the mosquitoes of Central Florida in the late 1800's
to create a new life for themselves in the tropical wilderness.
Their enterprising spirit drove them to establish successful
dynasties in citrus, lumber, shipping, and cattle.
 By
the mid 1930's, Florida citrus groves were producing more
than 20 million boxes of fruit a year for shipping across
the country. As the industry flourished, many entrepreneurial
growers agreed to form a fresh fruit cooperative to represent
them. That cooperative, established in 1936, was the early
forerunner to today's Pasco Brands.
Now, more than
a hundred years after the vision of those early settlers,
Pasco Brands is the largest producer of juice  and
juice beverages for the diverse international market.
Company
highlights
- In 1937
Pasco Packing experiments with canning single strength
juice for the American market.
- During World
War II pasteurized "hotpack" juice concentrate is shipped
overseas for American troops.
- In the late
1940's and early '50's, with the mass exodus to the
suburbs, frozen concentrated orange juice is introduced
in partnership with the Florida Citrus Commission.
- The Lykes
brothers (sons of the original settlers) form a diverse
family of companies, which includes groves, manufacturing
facilities, transport, packing and more.
- In the 1960's,
the first high-speed evaporators are installed,which
improved quality and efficiency.
- In the 1970's,
tank farms for juice storage are introduced to guarantee
a fresh year-round supply.
- An expanded
product line of juice and juice beverages such as Apple,
Grape, Lemonade, Cranberry and others is introduced
in the late 1970's.
- In the 1980's,
the first 96oz Orange Juice is introduced for the Private
Label market.
- In 1999,
an investment group acquires Lykes Pasco, bringing significant
financial resources and management capabilities to the
organization and renaming it Vitality Beverages, Inc.
- Currently,
Pasco Brands, Inc. operates as a division of Vitality
Beverages, Inc. and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
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