Brazilian OJ Exports to United States Surge

Josh McGill Brazil, Orange Juice

Brazil is the world’s leading exporter of orange juice (OJ) and accounts for nearly 80% of the OJ marketed in the world. For every five cups of orange juice consumed, almost four are produced in Brazil. According to the Institute of Agricultural Economics, in the first four months of the year, São Paulo exported $682 million in juice, of which …

Australian

OJ Availability, Price and Sales

Josh McGill Florida Citrus Commission, Florida Department of Citrus, Orange Juice

Worldwide availability of orange juice (OJ) has declined by 10% to 12% this season (2022–23) compared to the prior season, economist Marisa Zansler told the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) in June. Zansler is the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) director of economic and market research. The FCC is the FDOC’s governing board. In the 2022–23 season, frozen concentrated OJ availability …

destination dupes

Keeping Florida OJ at Top of Consumers’ Minds

Josh McGill Florida Department of Citrus, Marketing, Orange Juice

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) 2023–24 global marketing plan for orange juice (OJ) focuses on continuing awareness and sales-driving activities to keep Florida OJ at the top of consumers’ minds. Karmen Johnson of FDOC marketing agency Edible told the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) that the plan will continue to focus on primary shoppers and light and lapsed OJ buyers. …

Millennium Block and MAC Project Updates

Josh McGill Research, Rootstocks, Varieties

Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022 caused early fruit drop in the Indian River area, where two studies of 39,000 trees that might tolerate HLB are being conducted. Researchers now expect significant data from the studies will come after the 2023, 2024 and 2025 season harvests, but they have already gained some insights from the projects.  The first experimental grove, …

OJ Sales Fall While Price Climbs

Josh McGill Florida Citrus Commission, Orange Juice

U.S. orange juice (OJ) retail sales have decreased by 13.2% this season to 27.17 million equivalent gallons. OJ’s average season-to-date price has climbed 12.6% to $8.61 per equivalent gallon. Marisa Zansler, Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) director of economic and market research, provided that information in her May 17 report to the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC). By OJ category, not-from-concentrate …

Projects Selected for Existing Tree Therapies Program

Josh McGill CRAFT

The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation received nearly 700 eligible applications — representing more than 42,000 acres — for its new Existing Tree Therapies Program. A random lottery drawing was recently conducted by a third party, and 159 projects have been selected for inclusion in the program. The remaining applications have been placed on a waitlist.  CRAFT staff …

Project Seeks Quick HLB Diagnostic Tests

Josh McGill HLB Management, International, Research

Canadian college Seneca, in partnership with Ottawa-based Evik Diagnostic Innovations Inc., is working to develop a quick diagnostic test for the citrus disease HLB. Frank Merante, professor in Seneca’s School of Biological Sciences & Applied Chemistry, is the principal investigator for the project. The idea behind the research was to develop a simple way for growers to test crops and identify the …

Grants Available to Growers for Energy Projects

Josh McGill Agriculture, Industry News Release

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for $1 billion in grants to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses invest in renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements. USDA is making the grants available under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), with funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. “Supporting renewable energy and energy-saving systems helps the people of …

Latest CRDF Funding Includes Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride Projects

Josh McGill CRDF, Research

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors convened its March meeting with a busy agenda, addressing fast-moving current events. Discussion focused on newly approved oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC-HCl) trunk-injection products currently being applied in groves. The board funded a project to measure the impact of OTC-HCI applications on the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). Specifically, the study will determine …

Update on New Varieties Projects

Josh McGill Varieties

The Florida Citrus Commission on March 15 heard an update on four sponsored projects under the New Varieties Development and Management Corp. (NVDMC). Peter Chaires, NVDMC executive director, provided the updates: 1. The primary effort of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service’s Citrus Scion Breeding Program is to select varieties throughout the 2022–23 season that have commercial potential. …

CRDF Funds Project to Arrest HLB Bacteria

Josh McGill CRDF, Research

At the latest Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors meeting, funding was approved for a project by Robert Turgeon. He is a professor of plant biology at Cornell University. “Dr. Turgeon is considered by some to be the world’s foremost expert on phloem physiology. If his project succeeds, it could solve our problem with HLB,” CRDF chief …

OJ Standard of Identity Discussed

Josh McGill Florida Citrus Mutual, Orange Juice

No action was taken after numerous speakers discussed potential changes to the standard of identity for orange juice (OJ) at a March 1 public workshop. Taking place at Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) headquarters in Bartow, the workshop was titled “Continuing the OJ Standards Conversation.” FCM Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Joyner offered background on the standard of …

South Africa OJ Production to Rise

Josh McGill International, Orange Juice

Production of orange juice (OJ) in South Africa is estimated to rise by 6% to 33,120 metric tons (MT) in 2022–23, up from 31,320 MT in 2021–22. The estimate issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) is based on improved domestic orange production. In 2020–21, South Africa produced only an estimated 22,140 MT of OJ, …

Oranges and OJ in China: Production and Trade

Josh McGill China, Crop Forecast, Orange Juice

Orange production in China is expected to increase in 2022–23 over the prior year, while its orange juice (OJ) production is forecast to decline. The forecast was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDAFAS). ORANGESChina’s orange production in 2022–23 is forecast to reach 7.6 million metric tons (MMT), up from 7.55 MMT the prior year. The …

European Orange and OJ Production

Josh McGill Crop Forecast, International, Orange Juice

European Union (EU) production of oranges and orange juice (OJ) are projected to decline in 2022–23 from the prior year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) projected. ORANGESOrange production in the EU is forecast at 5.8 million metric tons (MMT) in 2022–23, a 12% reduction from the prior season. The decline is mainly explained by production …

Department of Citrus Responding to Media and Promoting OJ

Josh McGill Florida Department of Citrus, Marketing

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) worked with Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) and public relations agency Red Hill Strategies to manage media requests regarding crop forecasts and the impacts of hurricanes in 2022. The FDOC has also worked with FCM to develop a toolkit about the application of oxytetracycline in the fight against HLB. FDOC Director of Global Marketing Samantha Lane …

Promotions Aid OJ Sales

Josh McGill Florida Department of Citrus, Marketing, Orange Juice

The demand for orange juice (OJ) would decline by 11.3% without the awareness produced by Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) promotional activities, the Florida Citrus Commission was told in December. Marisa Zansler, FDOC economic and market research director, delivered that message in summarizing a recent report by Lisa House, chair of the University of Florida’s Food and Resource Economics Department. …

CRDF Allocates Year-End Funds to HLB Research Projects

Josh McGill CRDF, HLB Management, Research

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) met for its December board meeting to discuss several topics before heading into the new year. One of the bigger areas of discussion was what to do with available uncommitted funds. “The board decided to fund work on several questions growers have regarding the use of bactericides inserted through systemic delivery devices and …

New Dollars Flow to Citrus Research Projects

Josh McGill All In For Citrus Podcast, Research

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently received a large grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Michael Rogers provided details of the grant totaling $16.5 million during the latest All In For Citrus podcast. Rogers is the director of the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in …

OJ Helps Modulate Blood Glucose Levels

Josh McGill Brazil, Orange Juice, Research

Recent Brazilian research indicates that the bioactive compounds in orange juice (OJ) help to modulate blood glucose levels and may even promote health improvements. The research was conducted by the Food Research Center of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo. The research was highlighted in Fundecitrus’ Citricultor magazine. According to principal researcher Franco Lajolo, oranges …