The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on March 20 expressed its intent to hire a new marketing agency for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). The FCC, which governs the FDOC, voted to give FDOC staff approval to post the intent to award Padilla the marketing business and pursue contract negotiations with them. Padilla would replace current FDOC agency Edible Inc. …
Florida Budget Includes $47 Million for Citrus
Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) recently reported that the Florida Legislature’s fiscal year 2024–25 budget includes $47 million to aid the state’s citrus industry. The funding for various programs is: Additionally, the Florida Legislature’s budget includes a $100 million annual appropriation for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which aims to protect working agricultural operations from development by establishing conservation easements. …
CITRUS NURSERY SOURCE: A Day of Learning About New Rootstocks and Varieties
By Peter Chaires The U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory and Florida Citrus Research Foundation (FCRF) jointly held an open house, variety display and field tour at the W.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm between Leesburg and Groveland in early December. This annual event provides a great opportunity for industry members to see the latest innovations in …
Supply Challenges and Demand Solutions
By Marisa L. Zansler The landscape of the Florida citrus industry has undergone significant transformations throughout its history. Over the past decade, it has faced substantial challenges in both supply and demand. Florida orange juice (OJ) production dropped by 85%, from 615 million gallons in the 2013–14 season to an estimated 94 million gallons in 2023–24. Even as imports increased …
Florida Juice Prices and Marketing Focus
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 …
Economist Provides Brazilian Citrus Update
Agriculture is the driving force in the Brazilian economy, and Brazil is a leading food supplier to the global market, economist Marisa Zansler told the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) at its last meeting. Zansler is director of economic and market research at the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). She visited Brazil in August and provided the FCC with an update …
Returns From OJ Promotions Projected
Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) promotions of orange juice (OJ) are projected to have produced a $2.23 return on investment for each dollar Florida producers paid to support the promotions, a University of Florida (UF) economist reported. Lisa House, UF professor and chair of the UF Food and Resource Economics Department, made that projection in a virtual presentation on Nov. …
Citrus Recovery Program Funding Allocated
Several scientific projects to be funded with $2 million the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) received from the state’s Citrus Recovery Program were approved by the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC). The Citrus Recovery Program funds came from the Florida Legislature this year. The funded projects include: Also utilizing funds from the Citrus Recovery Program, the FCC approved almost $1.05 million …
Florida Department of Citrus Budget and Tax Rates Set
The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on Oct. 25 set the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) budget and grower assessment rates for the 2023–24 season. The FDOC budget will be $23.239 million, about $6.5 million less than the 2022–23 budget of $29.795 million. It includes administrative and support services of $2.153 million, a general revenue service charge of $222,000, a research …
How Much Yield Is Needed to Offset the Cost of Injecting Trees With Oxytetracycline?
By Ariel Singerman Citrus growers in Florida are now allowed to inject their trees with oxytetracycline (OTC) to try to control Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and/or suppress citrus greening. The use of OTC is expected to improve the trees’ health and, in turn, increase yield. In this article, cost estimates are used to address the question of what yield response is …
Social Media to Promote Florida Gift Fruit
The majority of the Florida Department of Citrus’ (FDOC) $58,200 budget for gift fruit marketing in 2023–24 will fund promoted social media content. FDOC Global Marketing Manager Katelynn Long told the Gift Fruit Shippers Advisory Council Oct. 11 that the budget also includes influencer partnerships, media relations releases and content development and administration. Long said the FDOC plans to focus …
PIECES OF THE PAST: The Power of Pictures
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette This year, John Fuller, the new global marketing manager for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), and Matt Joyner, executive vice president/chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual, served on the panel of judges for the Miss Florida Citrus/Miss Winter Haven Competition. It was interesting to introduce them both to this iconic, grassroots promotional program that …
Orange Juice Shortages and Staggering Prices
By Marisa L. Zansler The orange juice (OJ) category has experienced turbulence over the past four years, characterized by volatility in prices, sales and distribution. Initially, the category declined in volume sales amid a saturated beverage market, with numerous options vying for consumers’ attention. However, the pandemic in early 2020 revitalized consumer interest, positioning OJ as a convenient and healthy …
Telling the World About Florida Citrus
A delegation from Japan’s Yamano & Associates recently visited Florida to meet with exporters and get an inside look at the future of the Florida citrus industry. That visit led Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) Chairman Steve Johnson to write the following commentary about the importance of Florida citrus worldwide: The company (Yamano) has been the Florida Department of Citrus’ (FDOC) …
Japanese Agency Tours Florida Citrus Industry
Yamano & Associates, Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) partner agency in Japan for over 40 years, recently concluded an educational tour in Florida, continuing its efforts to explore and engage with key individuals in the Florida citrus industry. The two-day tour provided the agency with a unique opportunity to closely observe the operations and processes involved in the Florida citrus …
Citrus Commission Chairman: Marketing Programs Work
Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) Chairman Steve Johnson recently shared his thoughts on the Florida Department of Citrus’ (FDOC) marketing programs. “As the budget has decreased over the past couple of years, and into next year, the FCC has placed a stronger emphasis on the need for the FDOC to utilize data to track their programs,” said Johnson. “Performance has played …
OJ Availability, Price and Sales
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 …
State Legislature Supports Florida Citrus
Landon Hoffman, director of government affairs for Florida Citrus Mutual, recently provided a recap of Florida legislative actions impacting the citrus industry: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state budget, which goes into effect on July 1. This year’s budget included more than $65 million to support Florida citrus, the highlight being more than $30 million for the CRAFT (Citrus …
Propagation Program Update on Donaldson and Other Trees
The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on June 14 received an update about a program for expedited propagation, in which 23 nurseries are participating. The goal of the expedited tree propagation program is to have several million HLB-tolerant or HLB-resistant trees planted in the next several years. Rosa Walsh, Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) director of scientific research, provided the update. …
Keeping Florida OJ at Top of Consumers’ Minds
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. …