America’s Love Affair with Oranges: A Peel Good Story

Oranges. They’re bright, they’re zesty, they’re basically little balls of sunshine wrapped in a peel. And America? Oh, we’re obsessed. We toss them in our grocery carts like they’re a necessity (because they are), we chug orange juice like it’s liquid gold, and we even have an entire state—looking at you, Florida—that pretty much exists just to grow them.

But why do we love oranges so much? Maybe it’s their refreshing burst of citrusy goodness. Maybe it’s their ability to transform into everything from juice to zest to a dangerously potent kitchen cleaner. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s because peeling one in public instantly makes you that person—the one perfuming the whole room with that unmistakable citrus scent. Whatever the reason, one thing’s for sure: oranges have us wrapped around their little pulpy fingers.

Orange Juice: The MVP of the Breakfast Table

Orange juice isn’t just a drink; it’s the drink. It’s the only beverage socially acceptable to pair with pancakes, bacon, and eggs without raising eyebrows. It’s the first thing airlines offer in those tiny plastic cups. It’s what we reach for when we need a vitamin C boost (or when we just want an excuse to drink something that tastes like happiness).

And let’s talk about fresh-squeezed orange juice—because if you’ve never had the joy of squeezing your own oranges, you’re missing out on one of life’s great underrated thrills. That first press, the juice flowing out, the citrus mist hitting your face—it’s practically a spa treatment and a workout all in one. Of course, this method also means wrestling with seeds, sticky hands, and the existential question of whether all that effort was worth one tiny glass of juice. (Spoiler: It was.)

A true classic – this antique orange juice squeezer has seen more Sunday brunches than we can count

But if hand-squeezing isn’t your style—or you’re not into citrus-scented arm workouts—don’t worry. These days, orange juice production has gone full factory mode, with machines doing all the squeezing (and none of the soul-searching).

Let’s take a peek at how your morning glass of OJ gets from grove to grocery shelf.

Click on the image below to play the video.

Oranges Galore: A Citrus Cast of Characters

Not all oranges are created equal. Some are sweet, some are tart, and some (looking at you, Seville oranges) are so bitter they practically demand to be turned into marmalade. There’s the classic Navel orange, the one we all instinctively reach for at the grocery store because it’s seedless and easy to peel. Then there’s the Valencia, the juicing champion, basically born to be squeezed. Blood oranges? Fancy, dramatic, and slightly mysterious with their deep red insides. And let’s not forget the tiny-but-mighty Mandarins, Clementines, and Tangerines, which are like the snack-sized candy bars of the citrus world—easy to peel, fun to eat, and impossible to stop at just one. No matter the variety, there’s an orange for everyone, and lucky for us, they all smell absolutely amazing.

Credit: The Spruce Eats / Julie Bang

Oranges in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

Americans don’t just drink their oranges—we put them in everything. We bake them into cakes, zest them into pasta, slice them into salads, and—if we’re feeling really ambitious—turn them into fancy marmalade.

If you're interested in our OJ breakfast bread recipe, the button link is provided at the end of the blog.

We make candles that smell like oranges, soaps that lather in citrusy bliss, and cleaning sprays that make our kitchens smell like an orchard. There’s just something about that fresh, bright scent that screams “clean and happy” (even if the kitchen is still covered in last night’s pizza boxes).

From the Farmhouse to the Bottle: Farmhouse OJ

Speaking of fresh-squeezed orange juice, nothing brings back memories quite like the antique orange squeezer at Penny & Rose’s farm. It wasn’t just about making juice—it was an event. The anticipation of pressing down, the satisfying squish, the slight fear that the whole contraption might snap in half—it was thrilling in a way only childhood memories can be. And the reward? A glass of cold, citrusy perfection that tasted like summer mornings and pure joy.

That same feeling is exactly what our scent, Farmhouse OJ, captures. It’s bright, fresh, and bursting with that just-squeezed, sun-kissed scent. One whiff, and you’re transported back to a time when making orange juice was an adventure, the kitchen smelled like a citrus grove, and life was just a little bit sweeter.

So, whether you’re drinking it, eating it, or diffusing it into your home, one thing is clear: America loves oranges—and honestly, who can blame us?

Got a juicy memory involving orange juice mustaches or wrestling with a stubborn squeezer? We’d love to hear it—scroll down and share your favorite citrus-splashed story in the comments below!