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Charles Julian Fussell Collection, 1950-2000

 

Summary

Creator:
Fussell, Charles Julian
Extent:
1 Linear Feet
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The materials in this collection reflect the invention and marketing of the Orange Scream snack product. Additional materials are related to Charles Julian Fussell's work as a citrus industry sales and marketing executive.

Biographical / historical:

Charles Julian Fussell was a native of Polk County, Florida. For many years he was a sales executive for Lykes Brothers. However, he was best known as the inventor of Orange Scream, a citrus-based milk product developed for school children. Fussell had racked up a series of merchandising successes at Lykes. These included the distribution in schools of such orange juice products as Icy Bird, "the frozen treat that's neat to eat." He figured a blend of orange juice and milk would be even more successful. As a liquid, it would provide a nutritious alternative to soft drinks and chocolate milk. Frozen, it would be healthier than artificially flavored treats. And it could also be vended as a whipped treat. Unfortunately, citrus juice curdles milk, which prompted him to work with his chemists to find a solution. A test marketing program in the late 1990s went well, prompting Dairy Foods magazine to boast that Orange Scream was "changing the way consumers take their OJ and milk." In 1999 the U.S. Department of Agriculture cleared the product for use in schools. However, it never made it to mass production. Fussell blames the disappearance of small dairies, which were gobbled up by national chains. "We were depending on the small, independent dairy farmer," he said. Another reason: "We ran out of money." In addition to his efforts to develop Orange Scream, Mr. Fussell worked as a real estate and citrus industry consultant. He was once married to an Irish singer. He graduated from the University of Florida and developed the Juice Bar at Cypress Gardens. He passed away on March 20, 2019, at the age of 92.

Acquisition information:
In is unknown when these materials were donated to the Thomas Mack Citrus Archives. The materials existed in the collection prior to the opening of the McKay Archives in 2009.
Arrangement:

The materials in this collection are aranged alphabetically and chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research. Researchers must contact McKay Archives in advance for access to unprocessed born digital materials in this collection. Collection restrictions, copyright limitations, or technical complications may hinder the archives' ability to provide access to unprocessed born digital materials

Terms of access:

The Charles Julian Fussell Collection is owned by Florida Southern College. This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Location of this collection:
Florida Southern College
111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr.
Lakeland
FL
33801
USA