The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on Jan. 21 received updates on citrus industry economic issues and appointed a chair and vice-chair. The FCC, whose members are appointed by Florida’s governor, is the governing board for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC).
ORANGE JUICE (OJ)
OJ retail sales trends for the four-week period through Dec. 27, 2025 show the price per equivalent gallon is up 14.07% compared to the same period in the previous year, with volume down 10.39%. That yielded a positive revenue change of 2.22%, FDOC Director of Economic and Market Research Marisa Zansler reported.
Not-from-concentrate (NFC) OJ saw the price per equivalent gallon rise by 16.18% over the prior year, with volume down by 8.16%. That yielded a positive change to revenue of 6.7%.
Zansler also reported on sales of total OJ blends and OJ drinks compared to 100% OJ. The data shows that consumers are buying less across the OJ spectrum, driven by reduced supply and higher shelf prices. However, the category is defending revenue through pricing. 100% OJ shows the strongest pricing power, while lower‐juice blends and drinks show more elastic consumer responses and some signs of substitution down the juice ladder, she stated.
Zansler projected that about 91% of the oranges produced in Florida this season will be processed into OJ. Of 12 million boxes forecast to be produced in 2025–26, more than 7 million boxes will go into NFC, and about 3.8 million boxes will go into frozen concentrated orange juice. A little over 1 million boxes of Florida oranges will be packed as fresh fruit.
GRAPEFRUIT JUICE
Grapefruit juice is experiencing effects similar to OJ from sustained supply constraints, Zansler reported.
A 9.5% increase in the price per equivalent grapefruit juice gallon compared to the prior season is directly in correlation with the 9.19% decrease in volume movement. That resulted in a slight reduction in revenue (0.56%) compared to last season.
The projection for grapefruit utilization shows about 31% will be used for grapefruit juice, and 69% of the crop will be packed as fresh fruit.
CHAIR/VICE CHAIR APPOINTMENTS
The FCC unanimously reappointed Steve Johnson chairman. Johnson is owner/general manager of Johnson Harvesting, Inc.
The FCC appointed Melanie Ressler vice chair. Ressler is co-chief executive officer of IMG Enterprises, Inc.
Source: FDOC