I’ve broken the code.
The difference is in how the fruit is processed. Not-from-concentrate means the fruit is squeezed, the juice is pasteurized and then packaged. From-concentrate means the fruit is squeezed, the water is extracted, which produces a concentrated form similar to that you see in the frozen food department. At a later time the water is added back in and the juice is pasteurized and packaged.
For companies it is much cheaper to ship 12 ounces, even in a refrigerated truck, than 48 ounces in a carton—and it is much cheaper to ship 48 ounces in a carton than to ship all the oranges, and have to throw away the peels and the pulp once you arrive. And it is much cheaper to have one big processing plant in Florida or California than to have a small one in every store, though big stores can afford it. You’ll notice, however, that their fresh-squeezed juice is much more expensive.
I have to say this is one of the everyday joys of Mexico City. There actually are small “processing” plants in every store, and probably even closer on a street corner. If you haven’t had fresh-squeezed orange juice lately, I’m going to suggest it. I particularly like it when the orange is juiced just a bit before it is fully ripe. It’s a whole new way of experiencing orange juice.
4 notes
