Florida Orange Juice, Erin Andrews Bring Nutritious Twist To Tailgating This Football Season

BARTOW, Fla., Aug. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Orange Juice and Erin Andrews are helping football fans kick off the season with nutritious, Florida-inspired grilling and tailgating tips.

Just in time for pre-season action, Florida Orange Juice is bringing a culinary-focused football experience to life with a public tailgate party in New York City. From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST Aug. 19, Herald Square at the corner of West 35^th Street and Avenue of the Americas will be taken over by grilling, samples of 100% Florida Orange Juice and games.

Fans can also expect an appearance at the event from FOX Sports broadcaster and ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" co-host Andrews, a Florida native and advocate for the health benefits of 100% Florida OJ.

"There's no one better than Erin to help us launch the football season with a lively event and great tips for tailgating with delicious, healthful recipes," said David Steele, director of public relations for Florida Department of Citrus. "She's a professional football lover who brings natural energy and Florida-style inspiration to any tailgate."

As part of her partnership with the Florida Department of Citrus, Andrews will help distribute samples of 100% Florida OJ at the event and share information about the nutritional benefits and culinary versatility of 100% Florida Orange Juice. An 8-ounce glass of 100% OJ has no added sugar and provides more than 100% of the Daily Value for vitamin C.

"Having grown up in Florida, I know OJ is a staple that helps me stay energized, especially during the busy football season," Andrews said. "I've spent a lot of time around tailgates and I love sampling all the traditional food, from burgers and ribs to potato salad and cookies, but it's also important to keep health in mind. I'm eager to share with fans how they can use a favorite beverage to refresh their tailgate recipe." 

Andrews will share her top tailgating and recipe tips, including:

• Select a stellar food lineup: Rely on classic tailgate favorites like burgers and brats, but try at least one new dish each time, and a health-conscious one, too. Incorporate recipes with bright, fresh flavors, like a citrus glaze for grilled cedar plank salmon or a spinach salad tossed in a 100% Florida Orange Juice and balsamic vinegar dressing.
• Don't forget to have fun: Remember to relax and spend time with guests. Have a friend prepare a tray of citrus-infused beverages: Mimosas! The combination of zesty Florida OJ with a splash of champagne is especially great for early morning tailgates.
• Get to grillin'. No tailgate starts until the grill is fired up. Who doesn't love smoky grilled veggies like peppers, corn and asparagus? To get your protein fix, try marinating chicken skewers in 100% Florida Orange Juice along with lime juice, jerk seasoning and ginger. The refreshing citrus marinade is perfect for the grill.

Along with free samples of 100% Florida OJ, the urban tailgating event will include a grilling demonstration and samples of the chicken skewers. Take-home recipe cards for the chicken skewer marinade will also be distributed. And, one lucky fan will win a high-end grill designed especially for tailgating as part of an onsite sweepstakes. To enter, fans can participate in a football toss game by throwing as many footballs as possible through an orange grove target in 30 seconds. Participants will earn a ticket to the sweepstakes, with the winner drawn at random at the close of the event. The winner does not need to be present at the time of the drawing.

Orange juice fans at the event and across the nation are encouraged to join and follow the social media conversation for updates from Andrews and nutrition information on Florida Orange Juice.  Visit Facebook.com/FloridaOrangeJuice or follow @OJfromFlorida and use the hashtags #OJTailgate and #OJSelfie.

About the Florida Department of Citrus

The Florida Department of Citrus is an executive agency of Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry. Its activities are funded by a tax paid by growers on each box of citrus that moves through commercial channels. The industry employs nearly 76,000 people, provides an annual economic impact close to $9 billion to the state and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues that help support Florida's schools, roads and health care services. For more information about the Florida Department of Citrus, please visit http://floridacitrus.org. 

The Florida Department of Citrus is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Agency. The Florida Department of Citrus prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities based on race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). 

MEDIA CONTACTS
David Steele – Florida Department of Citrus
[email protected]
863.537.3965

Jen Davis – Golin
[email protected]
312.729.4248  

SOURCE Florida Department of Citrus