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Tropicana to Shrink Packaging, Increase Prices on OJ
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Florida Freeze Forces Tropicana to Raise Orange Juice Prices

Florida's inclement weather this Winter is no pulp fiction.
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Florida's inclement weather this Winter is no pulp fiction. Due to a deep freeze in January that impacted tomatoes and citrus, Tropicana is saying it has no choice but to raise prices on its orange juice. In May, Tropicana plans to keep the price steady on its Pure Premium orange juice half-gallon cartons, but reduce their size from 64 to 59 ounces. Its gallon-sized jugs will stay the same in volume, but go up in price by five to eight percent.According to the company, the Florida citrus industry has produced the smallest crop in 20 years. Its yield is down 12 percent from last year, after a freeze damaged a large portion of the produce. Part of this devastating cost is being passed off to customers. I'm not that bothered by the price increase — it likely won't be more than 50 cents extra — but I think the practice of shrinking sizes is deceptive. How do you feel about the move?

Source: Flickr User justinlai

PepsiCo's Amp Energy Drink Has Controversial iPhone Application
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Pepsi Draws Controversy For Amp Drink iPhone App

Looks like Burger King isn't the only food brand that toes the line between cutting-edge and crass.
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Looks like Burger King isn't the only food brand that toes the line between cutting-edge and crass. PepsiCo, the maker of new energy drink Amp, has gotten flack for its latest iPhone launch.

"Amp Up Before You Score" is a free iPhone application that offers young men pointers on how to get in bed with 24 different types of women. Selections include "Sorority Girl," "Treehugger," and "Punk." Amp fans can then detail their conquests on the app's Brag List.

Backlash soon followed, with many accusing Pepsi of demeaning and objectifying women. Amp tried to appease the furor with an apology on Twitter, although it seemed to only want to heighten the buzz around the brand by introducing the Twitter tag #pepsifail.

What do you think of the move? Check out the video after the jump

Diet Gatorade: Cool or Not?
fitness gear

Diet Gatorade: Cool or Not?

Gatorade has done a fine job of marketing themselves as the sport drink.
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Gatorade has done a fine job of marketing themselves as the sport drink. After all, it saved the Florida Gators from getting crushed under that hot Floridian summer, now didn't it? However, this sport drink is known to be extremely high in calories and sugar, which makes most of us shy away from it.

And as consumers gained insight and started reading nutrition labels, Gatorade's sales dropped dramatically -- Clearly there is a movement towards no- and low-calorie beverages, both of which Gatorade is not. In light of all this, PepsiCo, the maker of Gatorade, announced recently that it would introduce a lower-calorie version later in the year for athletes when they are not breaking a sweat.

I commend PepsiCo for finally realizing that people are not buying into their product for anything other than the taste, but doesn't this say something about the original formula?

So what do you guys think...