Henry E. “Bert” Schulz

Highlights

Florida Molasses, Inc.

Florida Chemical Company

d-Limonene

Bio

In 1942, W. H. Schulz and his son Henry saw an opportunity to use waste created from citrus processing to create new products. They created Florida Molasses, Inc. and the company first started as an alcohol distillery that worked to fill the nation’s growing need for ethyl alcohol during World War II. After the war, the company name was changed to Florida Chemical Company and the focus shifted from alcohol to d-Limonene, a major component of the oil extracted from citrus rind. Always interested in the environment and eliminating waste from citrus processing, the Schulz family originally set out to market these citrus oils for use in the flavor and fragrance industry. They soon discovered however, that d- Limonene was an extremely versatile chemical which could be used for many applications including as a more effective cleaning solution. When the concern over the use of toxic chemicals began, Florida Chemical was perfectly poised to offer safe, clean, alternative cleaning products for many industries and applications.

Schulz became president of the business and continued to work to use the by-products of citrus processing to create other value-added products, including making paint solids, imparting an orange fragrance to products. The compound also could be used as a secondary cooling fluid. The fact that the product is completely natural makes it safer and the demand higher than other chemical alternatives. Schulz is credited with creating the first large volume markets for d-Limonene, making the oil a valuable commodity to the citrus industry. Schulz’s company became the leading supplier of d-Limonene with customers all over the world. Florida Chemical offers over one hundred citrus related products. These citrus-based cleaners have a broad range of applications and are used for cleaning in household applications and in many different industries including automotive, manufacturing, recycling, water treatment, marine, and medical/pharmaceutical. These different applications have given the citrus industry a greater breadth of market as well as increased crop value to the industry.