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.

Since our founding, 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
  • Research 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.