Ramon Lopez Irizarry
Encyclopedia
Ramón Lopez-Irizarry was an educator and scientist who invented an easier way to extract the cream from the coconut pulp and developed the original formula of Coco López
.
, was a professor of agricultural sciences at the University of Puerto Rico
. In the late 1940s the Government of Puerto Rico
gave a grant to the University of Puerto Rico to assist in the development of Puerto Rican industries.
. The main problem was extracting the coconut cream from the pulp which was a difficult task. López-Irizarry discovered an easier way by blending the cream from the hearts of the Caribbean
coconuts with an exact proportion of natural cane sugar. He named the product which he developed Coco López.
López-Irizarry kept the ingredients of the product a secret. The project was so successful that López-Irizarry soon left the University and commercialized it. Coco López became the basis for the famous piña colada
drink, which made its first appearance in 1954. The piña colada is also known as the "Official Beverage of Puerto Rico".
and family, for years. In 1966, he sold the brand to the Parkhurst family who later forged a deal with David Ballachow to distribute the product in the United States. Eventually the Parkhurst family sold the brand to the Borden Co. López-Irizarry's Coco López can be found in supermarkets worldwide.
López-Irizarry was married to Georgina Ramírez-Banuchi and had four children: Rosabel, Myrna, Ramón and Jorge. He resided in Ocean Park, San Juan, where he spent his last years. Ramón López-Irizarry died a multi-millionaire on October 8, 1982.
Coco Lopez
Coco López is a Puerto Rican coconut product which is used in many popular drinks."Coco López" was invented by Ramón López Irizarry, who was an agricultural professor for the University of Puerto Rico. With funds from the government, he worked on his idea inside a small laboratory that he owned...
.
Early years
Ramón López-Irizarry, born in Cabo Rojo, Puerto RicoCabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
Cabo Rojo is a municipality situated on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico and forms part of the San Germán–Cabo Rojo metropolitan area as well as the larger Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area....
, was a professor of agricultural sciences at the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
. In the late 1940s the Government of Puerto Rico
Government of Puerto Rico
The Government of Puerto Rico is a republican form of government subject to U.S. jurisdiction and sovereignty. Its current powers are all delegated by the United States Congress and lack full protection under the United States Constitution...
gave a grant to the University of Puerto Rico to assist in the development of Puerto Rican industries.
Coco López
In 1949, López-Irizarry, with the use of some of these funds, was able to work in his laboratory on an idea that he had. López-Irizarry set out to find an easier way to extract the cream from the coconut pulp. The heart of the coconut has always been an important ingredient in many of the desserts in Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The main problem was extracting the coconut cream from the pulp which was a difficult task. López-Irizarry discovered an easier way by blending the cream from the hearts of the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
coconuts with an exact proportion of natural cane sugar. He named the product which he developed Coco López.
López-Irizarry kept the ingredients of the product a secret. The project was so successful that López-Irizarry soon left the University and commercialized it. Coco López became the basis for the famous piña colada
Piña Colada
The piña colada is a sweet, rum-based cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice. It may be garnished with a pineapple wedge or a maraschino cherry or both...
drink, which made its first appearance in 1954. The piña colada is also known as the "Official Beverage of Puerto Rico".
Later years
López-Irizarry was very successful, he packaged his product at the Industrias La Famosa canning factory, owned by Wilbert ParkhurstWilbert Parkhurst
Wilbert Parkhurst was the founder of Empresas La Famosa, Inc., a company dedicated to the packaging and distribution of canned fruits and juices...
and family, for years. In 1966, he sold the brand to the Parkhurst family who later forged a deal with David Ballachow to distribute the product in the United States. Eventually the Parkhurst family sold the brand to the Borden Co. López-Irizarry's Coco López can be found in supermarkets worldwide.
López-Irizarry was married to Georgina Ramírez-Banuchi and had four children: Rosabel, Myrna, Ramón and Jorge. He resided in Ocean Park, San Juan, where he spent his last years. Ramón López-Irizarry died a multi-millionaire on October 8, 1982.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican scientists and inventors