Athlete Brand Citrus

Though it is not very prominent on the label, the phrase “Brogdex Fruit” is noteworthy. In the 1920’s, lemons and oranges had to be shipped via railroad cars filled with ice and then quickly sent to the east coast so that the citrus would not mold during the journey. In 1925, Brogdex patented a borax chemical wash that killed bacteria and protected the fruit. This allowed the citrus to stay fresh longer and it also allowed it to arrive in markets, in good shape, that previously had been too far away.