The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on Oct. 22 temporarily eased maturity standards for processed oranges and processed grapefruit. The Florida Citrus Processors Association and Florida Citrus Mutual requested the changes, which were enacted by emergency rulemaking.
The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), which the FCC governs, reported the maturity standard changes and the dates they are in effect.
ORANGES
For the period beginning at 12 a.m. on Oct. 24, 2025, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on July 31, 2026, processed oranges must have a Brix value of no less than 7.0 and there shall be no minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid, including field run and eliminations.
The prior processed orange standards were: From the beginning of the season, Aug. 1 through Oct. 31, the Brix value was no less than 9%. From Nov. 1 through Nov. 15, the Brix value was no less than 8.7%. From Nov. 16 through July 31, the Brix value was no less than 8.5%.
GRAPEFRUIT
For the period beginning 12 a.m. on Oct. 24, 2025, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025, the minimum Brix standard shall be no less than 7.0 for processed grapefruit. Beginning at 12 a.m. on Oct. 24, 2025, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on July 31, 2026, the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid is suspended for processed grapefruit, including field run and eliminations.
The prior processed grapefruit standards were: From the beginning of the season, Aug. 1 through Nov. 30, the Brix value was no less than 8.0% for seedy grapefruit. For the same timeframe, the Brix value was no less than 7.5% for seedless grapefruit. As of Dec. 31, the Brix value changes to 7.0%
CHAIRMAN EXPLAINS CHANGES
“It is still up to the processors to decide what (fruit) they want to take,” FCC Chairman Steve Johnson said. He added that the Oct. 22 emergency rulemaking means that processors have the right to take fruit but doesn’t mean that they must take it.
The FCC sets standard maturity rates for grapefruit, oranges and specialty fruit like tangerines and tangelos. It has the authority to enact emergency rules to lower that standard in times where otherwise good fruit would not be used due to circumstances like weather or, in this case, due to the impacts of citrus greening. The emergency rule merely establishes that processing plants and packinghouses may accept fruit for processing at a lower maturity standard to blend at a later date or for other uses.
Source: FDOC
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