Citrus Cosmetics!

Hey Citrus Fans!

It’s no secret that everyone wishes they had healthier, more radiant skin and with cooler temperatures on the horizon, it can often be hard to maintain it. But, did you know that citrus can be used to achieve that glow all year round? Citrus fruits have been known to soften skin, and bring out that youthful glow that everyone is searching for due to the high levels of citric acid the fruit contains.

The acid, which is known to kill bacteria, is often found in high-end cosmetics -- with a hefty price tag attached. But it turns out that you can make many of your own citrus infused lotions and cosmetics at home for a fraction of the cost! A few tips for achieving that perfect oh-so-natural look include: cutting a lemon in half and placing chapped or rough elbows or fingers directly into the fruit for five to ten minutes a day to soften the skin and keep the damage from returning. Another useful tip (that I personally have tried and liked) is to soak a cotton ball with lemon juice twice a day and apply the cotton-ball anywhere that you may have discoloration in the skin due to age or sun exposure. In about six weeks, you will likely see that the spots have faded or are completely gone.

Citrus is not just for skin care, though. The properties that make it so useful on the skin also make it very effective in your hair. Grapefruit is particularly good for your hair. If you would like to try and jump on the citrus-cosmetic bandwagon, might I suggest this cheap alternative to styling gel (which can have many harsh chemicals and dyes) which can be found Mother Earth Living.

Everyone knows that citrus fruits are good for their insides, but not everyone knows how amazing they can be for their outsides. If you decide to give citrus cosmetics a try, send us a message about how well they worked for you (or recipes you liked) in the comments section, or on our Facebook Page (The Citrus Hall of Fame).

Thank you!

Works Cited

Publications, Inc. Ogden. "Body & Soul: Pink Grapefruit Styling Gel for Extra Body - Heal - Herb Companion." Mother Earth Living. N.p., 27 June 2012. Web. 07 Nov. 2016.

Written by Emma Morton

Student Fellow at the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame

In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center

Want to Boost your Brain Power?

Hey Citrus Fans!

With classes starting up, many students (and professors) are looking for ways to improve their cognitive abilities, while also keeping away that dreaded “freshman fifteen.” Well, the answer is surprisingly simple. Studies have shown that drinking 500ml (roughly a pint) of orange juice a day can drastically improve memory, and help maintain a healthy weight. This is likely due to flavonoids, which are chemicals found in abundance in fresh oranges and other citrus fruits. According to Ben Spencer, author of the article Could Orange Juice Boost Brain Power?, “Scientists are not exactly sure how this works, but they suspect the chemicals (flavonoids) may improve blood flow, protect neurons against oxidative damage and increase the efficiency with which neurons transmit signals.” In layman's terms, flavonoids improve your memory, improve your comprehension of information, and do all kinds of good things that keep your body running normally.

This has been documented in a study that shows that this is especially true in older men and women who may be lacking flavonoids in their diets. Aside from oranges, blueberries, blackberries, apples, prunes, strawberries, grapes, peppers, and celery are all found to be packed with flavonoids. Therefore, adding a few more glasses of delicious Florida orange juice to your diet, or another basket of blueberries to your shopping cart might be just the thing you need to ensure that you start this semester with bright eyes and a healthy mind.

Works Cited:

Olson, Samantha. "Fruits And Vegetables With High Levels Of Flavonoids May Prevent Weight Gain." Medical Daily. N.p., 28 Jan. 2016. Web. 25 Aug. 2016.

Spencer, Ben. "Could Pure Orange Juice Boost Brain Power?" Dailymail.uk. Dailymail, 15 May 2015. Web. 25 Aug. 2016.

Written by Emma Morton

Student Fellow at the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame

In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center

Please Welcome the Newest Citrus Queen!

Hey Citrus Fans,

So you may already know that the 2016 Miss Florida Citrus pageant has officially crowned it’s 2016 Citrus Queen. This pageant has helped multiple young ladies’ dream come true ever since the 1920’s. Therefore, please join me in welcoming the newest Citrus Queen, Stephanie Capon of Miami, Florida.     The competition was fierce this year and was judged based on a number of portions such as: interview/on stage question, evening wear, talent, and swimsuit. Miss Capon received a $1,000 scholarship along with numerous other prizes and will represent the Florida citrus industry at various trade shows and events throughout the coming year.

    Miss Capon is attending University of Florida and earning her Master of Science in Management and hopes to earn a Juris Doctor degree in law. She was sponsored by Ben Hill Griffin Inc. She is also currently a White House intern for the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs. Ben Hill Griffin Jr. was inducted in the Citrus Hall of Fame in 1979, and Ben Hill Griffin III was also inducted in 2009.

    Stephanie Capon will go on to compete in the Miss Florida Pageant, which takes place in Lakeland later this summer. The winner of this pageant will go on to compete in the Miss America pageant. Let us all wish Miss Capon luck and welcome her as our 2016 Citrus Queen.

If you would like to know more, please visit our Facebook page at: 

Florida Citrus Queen/Miss Florida Citrus

“I am now part of a sisterhood that encourages women to be better.” - Stephanie Capon on what it means to be Miss Florida Citrus.

Works Cited

McGill, Josh. "Miss Florida Citrus 2016 Crowned." Citrus Industry News. AgNet Media Inc., n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2016. 

Written by Emma Morton

Student Fellow at the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame

In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center

Florida Conference of Historians - Guest blog post!

Hey Citrus Fans,

A couple of weekends ago, I attended the Florida Conference of Historians with Emily Smith.  The Florida Conference of Historians began in 1962 with the concept of an organization covering all historical fields that would give historians an opportunity to share their scholarship and develop a sense of collegiality among faculty teaching history in Florida's colleges and universities. My supervisor at the McKay Archives had asked us if we wanted to present at the poster session. When she asked back in November, I had something else scheduled, but my friend Emily Smith volunteered. I am a Citrus Hall of Fame fellow, but Emily isn’t. She chose a topic with my fellow Hall of Fame colleague Emma Morton. They looked at how the archives use of social media has been able to engage people in the topic of Florida citrus. At the last minute Emma couldn’t attend the meeting, so I volunteered to attend with Emily, and it was an enriching experience. I was able to enhance my public speaking abilities, as well as my networking skills. I was able to walk around and view the other posters that were there, so I was able to learn about new things. I was also able to meet other people that were interested in the topic that we presented on, which was digital media and how it engages the public.

Emily and I found that people our age enjoy our posts about the Orange Bird and the weekly “where is the Orange Bird now?” posts while the older population enjoys the Florida Citrus Label posts more. There was a fair amount of interest in our poster and it received positive regard. We received suggestions on how we can track and expand our social media presence from the more established historians and introduced the archives to our fellow undergraduate and graduate history students. This experience was satisfying because we were able to share what we have been working on and have our hard work not only recognized, but enjoyed by others.

If you haven’t seen our Instagram posts, please look for Citrusarchives…. Or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ – Florida Citrus Hall of Fame – we post every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Written by Meredith Kaffee

Guest Blogger at the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame

In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center

Exciting News!

Hello Citrus Fans!

I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break and enjoyed lots of time with their friends and family.

I have some exciting news to kick off 2016! On our Instagram page (citrusarchives) we will begin posting a photo of the beloved Orange Bird in different places all over Florida Southern College’s beautiful campus. The Orange Bird is an iconic image that holds a special place in my heart. Created by Disney in 1970 for the Florida Citrus Commission, he has brought smiles to thousands of faces. Uniquely, The Orange Bird does not speak, or even sing! As a result, he only communicates with orange thought bubbles and is teased mercilessly by the other birds. Through it all, he keeps spreading sunshine and smiles to everyone he meets.

Every Friday The Orange Bird will be seen throughout Florida Southern College. This interactive addition to our Instagram page will be fun for everyone and will showcase the lovely Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture that makes up the campus.

I hope you’re all as excited for this as I am. You never know where the Orange Bird’s next adventure will be, so be sure to follow us on Instagram to be sure that you never miss his next stop. If you have any recommendations for where you think The Orange Bird should fly to next, feel free to leave them in the comments section.

So don’t forget to keep an eye out this Friday! You won’t wanna miss it!

“With his beautiful orange feathers, and beautiful leafy wings,

He’s a fluffy little puffy sight to see.

He can turn your frown around, when you see him looking down,

The Orange Bird up in the Sunshine Tree.”

Written by Emma Morton

Student Fellow at the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame

In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center