JPA is the trade association representing the fruit and juice products industry. We represent processors, packers, extractors, brokers and marketers of fruit and vegetable juices, juice beverages, fruit jams, jellies and preserves and similar products, as well as industry suppliers and food testing laboratories. JPA also includes firms engaged in the trading of frozen concentrated orange juice futures and/or options contracts on behalf of JPA processor members.

JPA serves its members and consumers by:

• Promoting high standards of product safety and quality, and good manufacturing and inspection practices in the production and distribution of juice products;
• Advocating uniformity in standards applicable to industry products;
• Providing input to technology, trade, legislative, and regulatory proposals and actions affecting the industry;
• Providing the industry with the most current information available on business practices;
• Sponsoring research;
• And providing an effective voice for JPA membership to the public, both in the United States and abroad.

A History of Achievement

From its beginnings in 1957 as the National Association of Citrus Juice Processors in Florida, the association quickly expanded to embrace the interests of the broader juice industry across the US, including non-citrus products such as grapes, apples, pears, and tomatoes.

In 2003, the National Juice Products Association and Processed Apples Institute consolidated to form the Juice Products Association, Inc. In early 2005, the Association brought into its membership the former members of the International Jelly and Preserve Association and the Concord Grape Association. A Fruit Spread Section and a Concord Grape Section now exist under the JPA umbrella to address the interests of those involved in these areas. Today the Association encompasses over 130 Regular and Associate member organizations, representing juice and fruit processing companies and support industries throughout the United States and overseas.

In its 47-year history, the Association and its predecessor organizations have played a key role in the advancement of the juice industry. Milestones include:

• Playing an active role in a variety of international trade matters and, on behalf of its membership, participation in a number of proceedings before various Federal Agencies, including Court of International Trade, U. S. Customs, International Trade Commission, and the Department of Commerce. These proceedings included such matters as country of origin labeling, import tariff and quota restrictions affecting various juice products.

• An instrumental role in the promulgation of a model Code for Definitions and Standards for Diluted Fruit Juice Bases and Diluted Fruit Juice Beverages through the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO)

• One of the first organizations to seek appropriate exceptions from the provisions of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act.

• Led the promulgation of Federal Standards of Identify for Orange Juice and Orange Juice Products. Continued close liaison with Federal officials for purposes of interpreting the Standards to meet new labeling situations and proposing amendments.

• Led in the development of:
  • Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs for citrus and apple production processes
• International and national standards for apple products
• Programs to detect and prosecute counterfeit product
• esearch to control naturally occurring micro-organisms found in apples

• Established an active program in research and communications describing the health benefits of apple products.

• Developed helpful member publications, including anti-trust compliance guides, model records retention program, FDA inspection manual, and a food labeling guide.

• Developed programs to detect and limit the content of Patulin, a naturally occurring undesirable constituent found on apples, while assuring that US and international regulations did not interrupt apple product marketing and sales.

• Protected members by assuring the public of the ongoing safety of processed apple products when the Environmental Protection Agency banned the plant growth regulator Alar from use on apple trees.

Working for the Juice Industry

JPA’s benefits to members include:

• JPA’s Annual Meeting (Spring) and Fall Business Meeting include presentations on topics of current interest, such as crop estimates and conditions, transportation and export problems, packaging and marketing concepts, advertising trends and first-hand reports by leading government and regulatory officials.

• The biennial International Economic Outlook Conference offers a global view of the juice marketplace, as well as economic and political forecasts that will affect the market for juice and juice products in the coming year.

• Action Alerts keep members apprised of breaking regulatory and legislative issues and solicit their input so JPA interests can be advanced.

• Newsletters and email bulletins from JPA’s Washington, DC Headquarters keep members apprised of regulatory actions, crop information, pending State legislative matters, food security issues, marketing data, and anti-trust developments.

• JPA sponsors scientific research whose objectives meet the interests of the JPA membership.

• JPA conducts advocacy and provides technical input on legislative, regulatory and trade issues, such as qualified health claims, food labeling, food transportation and bioterrorism preparedness.

• Representing the juice and fruit products industry before international organizations, such as Codex Alimentarius, the Technical Committee on Juice and Juice Products (TCJJP), and the International Fruit Juice Union (IFU).

In all its programs and activities, JPA consistently stresses the strict observance of all State and Federal Anti-Trust laws and regulations promulgated to assure freedom of competition.

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