How Citrus Juiced Florida’s Identity

In 1967, the Florida Legislature officially adopted orange juice as the state beverage, and Governor Claude Kirk (pictured) signed the measure into law.

The statute declares that “the juice obtained from mature oranges of the species Citrus sinensis and hybrids thereof” is Florida’s official drink, honoring the deep connection between citrus and the state’s identity.

For generations, Florida has been one of the nation’s leading orange producers, with most of its crop pressed into juice, making the choice feel almost inevitable.

For decades, though, the orange itself had no official designation, even as the orange blossom was the state flower and orange juice had already earned its place as the state beverage. That changed in 2005, when a group of elementary school students successfully lobbied the Legislature and Governor Jeb Bush to name the orange (Citrus sinensis) the official state fruit. Bush later admitted he was surprised the honor had not already been granted.

The move tied together Florida’s long-standing citrus symbols and acknowledged the crop’s enduring place in the state’s story.