“MINUTE MAID” Is the name correct?

I was having a “why?” discussion the other day with another semi-smart, semi-knowledgeable person about why the name, “Minute Maid,” developed. The answer she supplied was that it was “quick to make,” as in “it only takes a minute!”

That was fine, except …..

Minute (noun) defined: period of time equal to sixty seconds or a sixtieth of an hour—pronounced as (min’- it) with accent on first syllable…..I held my breath for one minute.

Minute (adjective) defined: small, tiny, insignificant—pronounced as (mynoot’) with accent on second syllable…..The object in my eye was a minute speck of dirt.

Maid (noun) defined: female domestic servant; housemaid—pronounced as (mayd) with “long A sound”…..We hired a maid to help with the refreshment serving at the party.

Made (verb) defined: produced, formed, or shaped— pronounced as (mayd) with “long A sound”…..I made a hole in the wall with my drill.

Made (adjective) defined: formed or manufactured in a particular place or way— pronounced as (mayd) with “long A sound”…..This bowl was Japanese-made prior to World War Two.

While you ponder the above, here is a little history for my friend, Jerome Jiskins, and the rest of you who are saying Harry’s favorite expression, “Who gives a care about word usage?” (Harry really does care about correctness!)

1945: Florida Foods Corporation wins government contract when U. S. Army makes a massive order of “powdered orange juice” to send for troop use in the War. However, World War II ends before the product can be made and shipped.

1946: Florida Foods is re-named Vacuum Foods Corporation and ships first frozen concentrated orange juice product in the U. S., and it is named “Minute Maid,” a new retail beverage category.

1948: Vacuum Foods (eventually becomes The Minute Maid Corporation in 1949) features Bing Crosby in a national radio campaign, and this becomes a 30-year promotional relationship.

The name, Minute Maid, implied the convenience and ease of preparing delicious orange juice—Boston marketing firm “invented” the name!

1960: Coca-Cola Company moves into an area besides soft drinks and “buys” the Minute Maid Corporation.

1969: Duncan Foods, Houston-based coffee business, merges with Coca-Cola Company Foods Division, which includes Minute Maid.

1973: Coca-Cola introduces “ready-to-drink” orange juice into the “chilled juice aisle” of grocery stores.

1980: Coca-Cola Foods adds lemonade and fruit punch to its Minute Maid offerings.

1987: Coca-Cola introduces Minute Maid Orange Juice with Calcium.

1996: Coca-Cola Foods becomes The Minute Maid Company.

2002: A partnership is formed between Minute Maid and The Houston Astros, and the Astros ballpark officially becomes Minute Maid Park. And I will assure you it took more than one minute to build the park and to make the deal, as it did the ASTRODOME it replaced!

And, as Paul Harvey so often said, “And that is the rest of the story!”