Local citrus and health exhibit on display at WesternU

A piece of the citrus industry is on display at the Harriet K. and Philip Pumerantz Library and Resource Center at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona.

The exhibit, titled "Citrus and Health," sponsored by Citrus Motors Ford-Lincoln-Mercury in Ontario, Calif., is a collection of citrus crate label reproductions, historical photos, magazines, journals, a few reamers and advertisements presented in a collection from Richard Barker, retired banker and founder and president of the Citrus Roots – Preserving Citrus Heritage Foundation.

The collection offers mythology culture of the orange (citrus) in addition to the history of the citrus industry and the impact of citrus on health.

WesternU’s University Archivist Olivia Solis says this is one of the library’s first exhibits, and she hopes to see more through the year.

In the early 1900s, citrus growers needed to promote the fruit that was grown throughout the area from Upland, San Bernardino and Pomona.

"The public was not accustomed to eating the fruit yet," said Solis. "They (the growers) had to promote this in advertisements and post cards and turn in coupons and receive reamers, which are juicers, or silverware that had the decoration of orange blossoms on that."

The exhibit is open to the public every day, now through April 30. The library, at 287 E. Third Street on the northwest corner of Gibbs and Third streets in Pomona, is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call the library at (909) 469-5323.