brix

Brix Bill Introduced in Senate

Daniel CooperFlorida, Legislative, Orange Juice

U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, both from Florida, recently introduced the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act. They said the act supports American growers by changing the standard of sugar levels for pasteurized orange juice from a 10.5% Brix standard to 10%. The bill would have the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) make the Brix change. Currently, …

marketing

Florida Citrus Commission Updated on Marketing Campaigns

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing, Orange Juice

Representatives of the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) and its marketing agency, Padilla, reported on various marketing campaigns at the March 26 meeting of the Florida Citrus Commission. Tina Charpentier of Padilla said the FDOC is on track to meet or exceed its attributed sales goal of $25 million for the year, achieving 65% of that level as of March …

juice market

Juice Market Brings Questions for Georgia Citrus Growers

Tacy CalliesCold Hardy, Georgia, Orange Juice

Expansion into the juice market may unlock a profitable marketing opportunity for Georgia citrus growers. But questions remain before growers can start planning this new course of action, says Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association. “Hamlins and perhaps some early-season Valencias would work here in Georgia,” Savelle said. One question Georgia growers have about entering the juice …

sales

OJ and Grapefruit Juice Sales Decline

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Orange Juice

Retail sales of orange juice (OJ) and grapefruit juice (GJ) declined for the current season through Feb. 22, according to Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) Director of Economic and Market Research Marisa Zansler. She reported the following data to the Florida Citrus Commission on March 26: The Florida Citrus Commission serves as the governing board for the FDOC. The FDOC …

Brazilian

Brazilian Orange Juice and Trade

Daniel CooperBrazil, Orange Juice, Trade

Orange juice processing and trade are among topics addressed in a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA FAS) report on Brazilian citrus.  Approximately 80% of Brazilian orange production is used for juice processing, and 20% goes to the market as fresh fruit, USDA FAS reported. Orange juice production is concentrated in the state of São Paulo, followed by Minas Gerais. …

functional beverage

Marketing Orange Juice as a Functional Beverage

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing, Orange Juice

U.S. consumers have felt the sting of inflation, but that hasn’t kept them from drinking more beverages year after year, the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) recently reported. Tina Charpentier of Padilla, the Florida Department of Citrus’ (FDOC) marketing and issues management agency, told the FCC that consumers have endured a 30% increase in food prices since 2019. During that same …

sales

Juice Sales Volume Down; Prices Up

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Orange Juice

Orange juice (OJ) and grapefruit juice retail sales volumes dipped compared to the prior year for the period that ended Nov. 30, but the prices for both products increased. Marisa Zansler, Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) director of economic and market research, reported that information to the Florida Citrus Commission on Dec. 18. ORANGE JUICE The four-week year-over-year OJ trend …

quality

Rain Brings Relief but Brazil Orange Quality Still Low

Daniel CooperBrazil, Orange Juice, Production

Regular rains and mild weather in Brazil’s Citrus Belt of São Paulo and Triângulo Mineiro in late October brought relief for trees affected by prior lack of rain and high temperatures. The better weather may improve the quality of fruit that is still on the trees. But even with the return of rainfall, the 2024–25 orange crop has presented low …

production

Study Shows Value of FDOC Orange Juice Promotions

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing, Orange Juice

A 2024 University of Florida (UF) study showed that demand for orange juice (OJ) would have declined by 8% without the awareness of Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) promotional activities. The study estimated consumption would have decreased by an additional 75.7 million single-strength equivalent gallons — equal to roughly 13.7 million boxes of Florida processed oranges — without FDOC promotions. …

maturity standards

Update on Orange Juice Processing in São Paulo

Daniel CooperBrazil, Orange Juice, Processing

Orange juice processing for the 2024–25 season was moving at a good pace in Brazil’s São Paulo state at the end of September, the Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA) at the University of São Paulo reported. The Pera orange has been the most processed variety so far, but the harvesting and processing pace of late fruit such …

marketing program

Florida OJ Marketing Program Outlined

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing, Orange Juice

The Florida Department of Citrus’ (FDOC) 2024–25 orange juice (OJ) marketing program will be anchored by a refresh of the current Original Wellness Drink concept. The campaign — The True Original — will salute “originals” and encourage consumers to drink more Florida OJ. Learn here what the FDOC and its advertising agency mean by “originals.” The program will kick off …

juice market

Update on Efforts to Lower Required OJ Brix Level

Daniel CooperLegislative, Orange Juice

Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) and federal lawmakers from Florida are pushing legislation that would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lower the required Brix level of not-from-concentrate pasteurized orange juice (OJ) from 10.5% to 10%. The change has been requested because many Florida oranges no longer produce juice that meets the 10.5% Brix requirement.     FCM Chief …

Orange Juice

No Shortage of Australian Orange Juice

Daniel CooperInternational, Orange Juice

Citrus Australia has assured Australian consumers they will continue to have consistent access to orange juice made from locally grown fruit. Adverse growing conditions and the spread of the huanglongbing (HLB) disease have reduced orange production in Brazil, Florida and several other key citrus-growing regions around the world. This has created a global shortage of orange juice concentrate, prompting media …

og

‘OG’ to Promote Florida OJ

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing, Orange Juice

A new Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) ad campaign is likely to use the term “OG” extensively, according to new FDOC marketing agency Padilla Speer Beardsley, Inc. So, what does “OG” mean? Michelle Amoroso of Padilla explained that an OG is someone who is an original or originator, highly regarded and respected. She added that OGs are the paradigm; they …

cutrale

Cutrale to Close Florida Juice Plant

Daniel CooperOrange Juice

The Cutrale Citrus Juices USA plant in Leesburg, Florida, will close and lay off 117 employees beginning in late July. A notice from Cutrale posted on the Florida Department of Commerce website gave the reason for the closing as “primary business partner has decided to move packaging operations from the Leesburg facility to their own facilities.” The notice is required …

citrus juice sales

Citrus Juice Sales Continue to Decline

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Orange Juice

At its May 9 meeting, the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) learned how much retail sales of citrus juice continue to decline. Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) Director of Economic and Market Research Marisa Zansler reported on the period ending April 20. Orange juice (OJ) sales were down by 11.6%, and grapefruit juice sales were down by 9%. For the fourth …

consumers

Florida OJ Has Solid Share of Consumers

Daniel CooperFlorida, Orange Juice, Research

A significant portion of consumers are drawn to Florida orange juice (OJ) despite recent economic setbacks, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) study shows.  “There is an intrinsic value that consumers have for Florida orange juice. When they think of Florida, orange juice is often part of the imagery,” said Marisa Zansler, director of economic …

expanded

Discovery Speeds Push for HLB-Tolerant Citrus

Daniel CooperBreeding, Orange Juice, Research

It’s one thing for a hybrid citrus tree to tolerate HLB, but quite another thing for it to produce orange-like fruit that makes delicious orange juice (OJ). That holy grail of traits could be nearer, thanks to a team of U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientists. …

marketing agency

Florida Juice Prices and Marketing Focus

Daniel CooperFlorida Department of Citrus, Marketing, Orange Juice

At the Jan. 17 Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) meeting, Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) Director of Economic and Market Research Marisa Zansler reported on price increases for orange juice (OJ) and grapefruit juice. Nielsen data for the period ending Dec. 2, 2023 showed: Zansler reported that the average increase in grapefruit juice price year-over-year is 4.27%, somewhat in line with …

Australian

Australian OJ Production Projection

Daniel CooperInternational, Orange Juice

Australian orange juice (OJ) production in 2023–24 is forecast at 15,400 metric tons (MT) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). That’s a decrease of 4% from the 2022–23 estimate of 16,100 MT. Higher production and improved fruit quality for fresh oranges is anticipated in 2023–24, resulting in a lower volume of rejected fruit channeled toward …