Update on Florida’s Orange Brix Issue

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) provided additional information about the issue of low Brix oranges in its Nov. 19 Triangle newsletter. It reported that Florida growers and processors “are bracing for another season of low Brix oranges.” Earlier this year, FCM sought enforcement discretion regarding Brix in pasteurized orange juice, not from concentrate (NFC), from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) with the …

Mexico OJ Exports Increasing

Ernie NeffMexico, Orange Juice

Mexico is the second leading exporter of orange juice (OJ), following only Brazil, Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) economist Marisa Zansler reported recently. She said Mexico’s OJ exports increased incrementally in recent seasons in response to the decline in world OJ supplies. Excerpts from Zansler’s FDOC document, Florida Citrus Outlook 2021-22 Season, follow. Although a net exporter of orange juice, …

Cutrales to Face Trial Over OJ Cartel

Ernie NeffLegal, Orange Juice

Law firm PGMBM reported it has secured a London High Court judgment that will result in a Brazilian orange juice (OJ) magnate facing trial over his participation in an illegal cartel. José Luis Cutrale and his son, José Luis Cutrale Jr., reportedly were part of an operation that substantially impacted the global market for the sale of OJ. Brazilian orange …

Brix Decision Disappoints Florida Citrus Mutual

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not agree with Florida Citrus Mutual’s (FCM) request for discretion in enforcing the Brix limit for not-from-concentrate (NFC) orange juice. In its Oct. 22 Triangle newsletter, FCM reported that it had sought enforcement discretion “to protect growers from the likely contingency that Florida’s 2021-22 orange crop may not meet FDA’s minimum Brix …

Consumers Prefer Citrus Juice Blended With Sugar Belle®

Tacy CalliesOrange Juice

By Yu Wang, Xixuan Tang, Charles Sims, Zhifeng Gao and Renee Goodrich Citrus fruit produced from HLB-affected trees are green and taste bitter. They are usually not suitable for either the fresh market or juice market because they have a lower Brix/acid ratio. Mitigation strategies can cause less fruit drop and help citrus trees survive. However, they triple production costs, …

OJ May Fight Inflammation, Oxidative Stress

Ernie NeffOrange Juice, Research

A new study suggests 100% orange juice (OJ) has the potential to help fight inflammation and oxidative stress in adults, paving the way for further research on the topic. Though limited in scope, the study indicates drinking 100% OJ significantly reduces interleukin 6, a well-established marker of inflammation, in both healthy and high-risk adults. Two additional inflammatory and oxidative stress …

fresh

Panel Discusses OJ and Health Research

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

The Florida Citrus Commission’s (FCC) Scientific Research Advisory Council (SRAC) on Oct. 13 discussed recent studies and projects addressing the linkage between orange juice (OJ) and health. The FCC governs the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), which spends much effort promoting the health benefits of OJ. PUBLISHED STUDIESRosa Walsh, director of scientific research at the FDOC, shared three recently published …

Citrus Juice Sales Update

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

Retail sales of orange juice (OJ) trended at pre-2019 levels throughout the 2020-21 season. And for the latest four-week period ending Sept. 11, OJ trended at pre-2017 levels. Economist Marisa Zansler recently presented this information to the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC). Zansler is director of economic and market research for the Florida Department of Citrus, which the FCC governs. Fueled …

Mutual Petitions FDA Regarding OJ Brix

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) is making efforts to protect growers in the event Florida oranges don’t meet the minimum Brix requirement for not-from-concentrate (NFC) orange juice (OJ). FCM recently sent a formal request to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking enforcement discretion to protect growers from the likely contingency that Florida’s 2021-22 orange crop may not meet FDA’s …

PepsiCo to Sell Tropicana

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

PepsiCo, Inc. announced Aug. 3 that it has entered into an agreement with PAI Partners (PAI) to sell Tropicana, Naked and other select juice brands across North America. It also entered into an irrevocable option to sell certain juice businesses in Europe. PepsiCo said the actions will result in combined pretax cash proceeds of approximately $3.3 billion while retaining a …

Citrus Juice Proven to Aid Immune System

Ernie NeffOrange Juice, Research

A new research review, published in Frontiers in Immunology, has found that a glass of citrus juice contains key nutrients and bioactive substances that help human immune systems work efficiently. Scientists examined evidence from nearly 200 different studies and reports. They concluded that vitamin C, folate and polyphenol compounds in citrus juice can impact immune health, fight inflammation and improve …

OJ Consumption Aids Children’s Health

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

Moderate consumption of 100% orange juice (OJ) should be encouraged in children due to its multiple health benefits and lack of negative impacts on body weight, numerous studies indicate. The studies have revealed that children who regularly drink 100% orange juice have higher intakes of key nutrients, higher quality diets, and may have healthier lifestyle habits than children who do …

new york times

EU Orange Juice Production Climbs

Ernie NeffInternational, Orange Juice

European Union (EU) orange juice (OJ) production is forecast at 89,228 metric tons in 2020-21, a rise of almost 25% compared to the prior year. The EU forecast for OJ production was reported in June by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. The forecast is in line with the expected growth in the volume of European oranges destined …

Research Planned on OJ Health Benefits

Ernie NeffOrange Juice, Research

Rosa Walsh, director of scientific research at the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), told the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) in June about the 2020-21 FDOC research plan. The plan includes two scientific research projects exploring health benefits of 100% orange juice (OJ). The projects, beginning in the new fiscal year, look at determining quantitative analysis of nutrient density in OJ …

Study: Beverage Labels Confuse Parents

Ernie NeffFlorida Department of Citrus, Orange Juice, Research

Beverage labeling regulations appear to fall short of helping parents identify the ingredients of drinks they purchase for their children, a recent study published in Pediatric Obesity suggests. This has researchers calling for changes to labeling regulations to increase transparency and help consumers choose healthier beverages. The online study included more than 1,600 parents who had healthy 1- to 5-year-old …

Uncle Matt’s Launches Ultimate Shots

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

Uncle Matt’s Organic recently announced the launch of its Ultimate Shots line. Ultimate Shots are intended to aid specific functions such as immune support, digestion and energy. The shots are now available online and will be rolling out to select retailers nationwide over the next few months. The Ultimate Shots come from 100% organically grown fruit. The juice is blended with …

orange juice

Suspension of OJ Brix Level Sought

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

For most months during the 2020-21 Florida citrus season, oranges did not meet the federal minimum standard of 10.5 degrees Brix for not-from-concentrate orange juice (OJ). According to a slide shown during Florida Citrus Mutual’s recent annual meeting, the average Brix level for oranges during the season was 10.45. Brix is a measure of the sugar content of juice. Consequently, …

How OJ Sales Boomed in the Pandemic

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

The boom in OJ (orange juice) sales during the COVID-19 pandemic was highlighted during Marisa Zansler’s report to the Florida Citrus Commission in May. Zansler is the Florida Department of Citrus’ (FDOC) director of economic and market research.   Prior to the pandemic, orange juice sales had decreased annually by an average of 5.5.% each year, Zansler reported. She noted …

New Use for Orange Extract

Ernie NeffOrange Juice, Technology

An extract from orange juice production is offering an eco-friendly way for developing transparent wood, an innovative structural material for building construction. Since it was first introduced in 2016, transparent wood has been developed by researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. The wood lets natural light through and can store thermal energy.    The key to making …

Promoting Orange Juice for Hydration

Tacy CalliesOrange Juice

It may not officially be summer yet, but with temperatures heating up, Steve Johnson, chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission, has a reminder about the value of drinking orange juice (OJ) for hydration. “A glass of orange juice is a great hydration option in addition to water since it naturally contains a high percentage of water — almost 90%, says …