Summer is almost here. Temperatures are heating up and the sun is shining bright making us thirsty for cool refreshing drinks. Florida juices are in season and I’ve found one that I love.
By now y’all know that I care about what I feed my family. I try to shop locally, avoid processed foods, artificial flavors… I don’t ever compromise my high standard for quality and flavorful food. I recently discovered Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice at my local Publix and it fits the bill. This family owned business also has high standards and is winning awards for it.
On a crisp autumn day in 1989, Marygrace Sexton pulled her baby daughter, Natalie, in a red wagon laden with fruit through the family orange groves in Florida’s Indian River growing region. Her husband, Bobby, a fourth generation citrus grower had dreamed of squeezing the world’s best fruit to produce the best fresh-squeezed juice. However he was too busy running the family’s packinghouse and didn’t have the time to see it through. Marygrace, on the other hand, was determined to bring his idea to fruition. On that day in the groves, she decided to name this labor of love after her daughter, Natalie.
I’m a big fan of their clean ingredients list. I have a “what you see is what you get” product philosophy. Nothing they sell has preservatives, added sugars, GMO’s or hidden ingredients. Trust me, this makes a huge difference in flavor and freshness.
We squeeze our juice to order every day. Our squeezed fresh Florida citrus juices are gourmet pasteurized for the minimum amount of time, at the minimum temperature, in order to retain the quality and nutrition that our consumers know and love. We produce clean label products; no preservatives or hidden ingredients.
Natalie’s orange juice is simple, pure and delicious but they are more than just an orange juice company. Beets are a hot veggie right now for their anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogen properties. Personally, I don’t do beets in the raw or cooked. I can’t get over the texture no matter how good I know they are for me. Natalie’s Orange Beet Juice is the perfect fix. The orange juice compliments the beets making it an easy addition to a smoothie or morning drink. Now I can finally reap the benefits of the beet.
Today, what once started as a mom and her baby in the groves is now an award winning leader within the juice industry, producing America’s best tasting fresh Florida juices. Natalie’s can be found in over 30 states and 24 countries around the world and recently became certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
My daughter’s favorite was Natalie’s lemonade, and strawberry lemonade, for that matter.
And yes, you can spike it if you are in that kinda mood! In fact, Natalie also carries a delicious margarita mix. Once you try it, you won’t ever dare use a syrupy mix again.
I know there are some people out there that avoid any and all juices because of the higher sugar content. Here are my two cents: The sugar in these juices is naturally occuring which is much better than say the artificial kind in a diet soda. Also, don’t discount the nutritional benefits of the fruit itself! Oranges, for example, are full of vitamin C and fiber. Choose a small glass (ever notice how juice glasses are the smaller ones??) or measure when you throw it in your smoothie that way you can reap the benefits, but not go overboard on the sugars. I usually use 1/4 C.
Natalie’s Orchid Island Juices is now available at your local Publix and at JAX NAS Commissary for delicious summery drinks and cocktails!
Keep your eye out for a GIVEAWAY from JMB next week!!
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Thank you to Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
