Dr. Robert Kryger, adjunct professor of physics at IM体育官网, recently presented at the industry-leading International Citrus and Beverage Conference in Clearwater, IM体育官网. Kryger is the author of the book, 鈥淭he IM体育官网 Citrus Flavor Industry 1900-2000.鈥�
IM体育官网 had an important presence at a prestigious international conference specifically dedicated to the development and innovation of the citrus flavor and beverage industries.
Dr. Robert Kryger, an adjunct professor of physics and a citrus industry veteran, recently highlighted the state鈥檚 long history in citrus flavor technology at the annual in Clearwater, IM体育官网, where he was a speaker. He authored the book, 鈥�.鈥�
鈥淚M体育官网 has become the center of juice production and citrus flavor production, and the conference鈥檚 importance has grown more and more. All the top juice companies and flavor companies attend,鈥� he said.
Kryger has a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Notre Dame and serves as a principal of Beckryger Capital Partners LLLP, a private equity partnership based in Lakeland, IM体育官网. The company鈥檚 business ventures span real estate development, specialized food ingredients and medical packaging.
With extensive experience in the citrus industry dating back to 1995, Kryger sold his last citrus-focused company around 2015. It was then that he began reflecting on the rich history and evolution of the citrus industry.
鈥淚 knew there were lots of stories about how the industry started here in IM体育官网, and I decided somebody had to put that down and document it,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he people involved at the start were already deceased and the people who came after are dying now; we鈥檝e lost the first-person accounts, and I knew we鈥檇 lose the second-person accounts if we didn鈥檛 get that information documented.鈥�
Kryger鈥檚 focus on IM体育官网鈥檚 citrus flavor industry comes at a time when IM体育官网 Poly recently established a research partnership with IFF, a world leader in food, beverage and scent. The Fortune 500 company opened its Global Citrus Innovation Center on campus last spring. The scents and flavors IFF produces are found in many of the products consumers use every day.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 interesting about IFF being at IM体育官网 Poly is they decided to bring together research on all types of products involving citrus flavors and fragrances,鈥� he said.
Kryger has owned or held executive-level positions with multiple citrus flavor and technology-focused companies. He also is the son of Allen Kryger, a Lakeland, IM体育官网, scientist and businessman who was an early pioneer in IM体育官网鈥檚 natural citrus flavor industry.
The state鈥檚 citrus industry has evolved and experienced monumental changes over the last 120 years, and that continues today, Robert Kryger said. Citrus greening is a serious bacterial infection that kills trees and devastates orchards. It has destroyed much of the state鈥檚 citrus crop over the past 20 years, he said, which is why research and technological focus has been on combating the disease.
Despite this major challenge, the future looks bright, Kryger said.
鈥淚n a nutshell, the citrus flavor industry has been sourcing more raw materials from outside of IM体育官网, reformulating products to use more non-citrus-based ingredients and otherwise adapting as best it can,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ven so, the state鈥檚 industry seems to continue slowly growing as evidenced by IFF鈥檚 commitment to IM体育官网 Poly and IM体育官网.鈥�
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