Tropicana's Passion is in the Pulp

Don't ask, don't tell may work for some preferences, but not when it comes to pulp. It's now chic to spill the beans, well, oranges – when relating your pulp passions. Indeed, even America's most talked about fictional family, the Sopranos, are debating the merits of "no", "some" or "lots of" pulp.

And Tropicana is fanning the fires further, introducing enhanced Pure Premium Grovestand and HomeStyle orange juice. A new proprietary process created by Tropicana uses a smoother means of extracting the pulp, making fuller, juicier pulp, creating juice as close as you can get to the orange. If you're passionate about pulp, nirvana is now on store shelves.

"Juices with pulp now represent one-quarter of all orange juice sales, and more than one-third of all Tropicana Pure Premium sales," said Tropicana senior director of marketing, Paul Smith. "We have upgraded the pulp extraction and blending process for a better pulp texture and taste."

Pulp preferences
Tropicana research indicates a strong divide among consumers who buy the brand's three Pure Premium recipes: Grovestand ("lots of pulp"), HomeStyle ("some pulp") and Original ("no pulp"). Pulp preferences are often determined by age, sex and family size. Those with mature taste buds make up the group with the greatest preference for orange juice with pulp.

• Grovestand–If you're a professional man age 45 and older in a household of one or two members (a profile not unlike Grovestand drinker President George W. Bush), the most diplomatic way to start your day is with a tall glass of orange juice with lots of pulp.

• HomeStyle–If you're an ethnically diverse educated man or woman age 45 and older in a household of one to two members (like Billy Blanks, personal trainer and creator of the renowned Tae Bo™ exercise program, or Tony Soprano, notorious fictional crime boss), kick off each day with a refreshing glass of orange juice with some pulp.

With the U.S. Census Bureau now counting more than 41 million U.S. men ages 45 plus – an increase of six percent over the last five years – there is a large and growing segment of the population with a passion for pulp.

Why maturing taste buds prefer pulp
The body's acute sense of taste changes over a person's lifespan. Nearly 85 percent of a person's taste is attributed to the sense of smell. However as a person matures their olfactory sense decreases, thus creating a decline in their flavor perception. That precipitates a greater desire for foods with texture – something of a compensation for reduction in smell. Dr. Miriam Linschoten, principal investigator and psychologist at the Taste and Smell Center at the University of Colorado, recommends that people find foods with appealing texture, bright color and fresh aroma to satisfy their changing tastes and nutritional needs.

"The enhanced Tropicana Pure Premium Grovestand and HomeStyle brands appeal to mature taste buds because the texture in the juice gives them an extra layer of sensation," added Smith.

A glass of better health
Tropicana Pure Premium, made from fresh oranges, is rich with nutrients vitamin C, potassium, folate, thiamin, niacin and vitamin B6 all of which may enhance overall health. In addition, calcium-fortified varieties of Tropicana Pure Premium Grovestand, HomeStyle and Original orange juice are also available.

All varieties will be available in markets and convenience stores in 16, 32, 64-ounce and now 96 and 128-ounce sizes, beginning this month, so peel yourself a glass!

Consumers can log on to www.tropicana.com for more information about nutrient-rich, satisfying foods for the maturing adult.

Tropicana Products, Inc., a division of PepsiCo, Inc., is the world's leading producer and marketer of branded fruit juices. Based in Bradenton, Fla., Tropicana markets its products in the U.S. under a number of brand names, including: Tropicana® Pure Premium® Original, GrovestandTM and HomeStyleTM orange juices; Tropicana® Pure Premium® calcium-fortified juices: Calcium and Extra Vitamin C orange juice, Grovestand Calcium orange juice and Ruby Red Grapefruit Calcium grapefruit juice; Tropicana® Pure Premium® Double Vitamin C with Vitamin E orange juice; Tropicana® Pure Premium® Tropical Orange, Ruby Red Orange and Tangerine Orange juices; Tropicana® Pure Premium® Ruby Red Grapefruit, Ruby Red GrovestandTM and Golden grapefruit juices; Dole® juices and juice blends; Tropicana® Season's BestTM and Pure Tropics® juices; and Tropicana Twister® juice beverages. The Dole brand name is licensed from Dole Food Company, Inc.