The Orange and the Dream of California

Cloaked in mystery and until modern times available only to the elite, the orange has been known as the fruit of the gods, the food of emperors, and the symbol of health, wealth, and love. The dream of California since its discovery by Europeans has been that it is a place of plenty, of potential, of personal opportunity. When the orange and California were finally linked, their partnership created a compelling fantasy and a fantastic reality. The Orange and the Dream of California takes a lively, literary, and extraordinarily visual look at the symbiotic and highly symbolic relationship between the Golden State and its “golden apple.” Untold thousands of adventurers and health-seekers came West in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, lured by postcards of orange blossoms juxtaposed to snow-capped mountains. Orange juice became the way to start every day after Sunkist spread the word that drinking a California orange was not only as sweet and delicious as eating one, but held the promise of a healthy life. The orange became a symbol of everything California promised, and California became the center of the Orange Empire. In 176 full-color pages and more than 250 images, author David Boulé shares the absorbing story of the orange and its impact on the culture?historic, financial, artistic, and even romantic?of California. And, he tells the tale of citriculture, the complex, captivating, and controversial world of growing the orange.