Bronson Cushing Skinner
(1889-1981)

Died aged c. 92

Bronson Cushing Skinner, developer of the first palatable orange juice concentrate, was born June 26, 1889. After graduating in 1911 from Stevens Institute of Technology, Bronson Skinner managed the Skinner Machinery Company, founded by his father. In 1929 he sold the company to Food Machinery Corporation, although he continued to manage it. In 1935 he left FMC and founded Citrus Concentrates, Inc. to manufacture concentrated orange juice. To develop his concentrate, Skinner boiled water out of juice under a partial vacuum at a temperature so low the flavor and vitamin content were not damaged. He adapted evaporators for this purpose. He began selling his concentrate to Great Britain between 1936 and 1941. When the United States entered World War II, the War Food Administration sent him $1.5 million to build a plant to supply concentrate for the Allies. The plant operated until August 27, 1945, 13 days after Japan surrendered. Bronson Cushing Skinner died August 4, 1981.

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