During the Age of Discovery, Spanish missionaries planted the first pomegranate trees in the New World. However, it was not until the end of the 20th century that the West began to embrace the fruit and its juice as a healthy and versatile food source.

AD 1521: After Spanish conquistador Hernándo Cortés conquered the Aztecs in Mexico, Spanish missionaries planted the first pomegranate trees in the New World. From Mexico, the pomegranate was transported north to missions in California and Texas.

AD 1771: Thomas Jefferson planted pomegranates at his plantation, Monticello. After unsuccessfully planting pomegranates in England, pomegranates were transported to the English colonies in North America. Although the fruit did not adapt to the harsh environment of the North, it fared better in the American South.

AD 1792: In his journal, Voyage of Discovery, British explorer George Vancouver, the first Englishman to visit Spanish California, noted the abundance of pomegranate trees at Mission San Buenaventura in Ventura, California. The prevalence of the fruit is also reflected in a pomegranate-themed fresco decorating the interior of the Mission San Miguel Arcangel.

AD 1896: A Porterville farmer named Mr. Bearss brought pomegranate cuttings from Florida to California and began propagating them. This variety was sweeter and juicier than the others already there, so he aptly named it the Wonderful variety.

AD 2000: More than 100 years after the Wonderful variety was first propagated in California, consumers rediscovered this ancient fruit as pomegranates became widely available for the first time across the United States. Pomegranates are embraced for their sweet taste, plentiful juice, health benefits and culinary versatility.

AD 2002: POM Wonderful launches POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice, the first premium, all-natural pomegranate juice. The delicious taste and health benefits associated with POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice popularize the fruit in North America and spark a renewed interest in pomegranates worldwide.