OJ Sales Fall While Price Climbs

Josh McGillFlorida 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 …

Funding for Florida Department of Citrus Research

Josh McGillFlorida Citrus Commission, Florida Department of Citrus

The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on May 17 received a summary of the latest state funding earmarked for scientific research that will be administered by the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). FDOC Director of Scientific Research Rosa Walsh provided the summary. She noted that the funding established by the Florida Legislature needs to be approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis. State …

The Florida Citrus Industry After the 2022 Hurricanes

Josh McGillEconomics, hurricane

By Tom Spreen To proclaim that 2022 was a difficult year for the Florida citrus industry would be an understatement. In late January, a short freeze hit much of the commercial citrus-producing area with long-term implications. While its effect on the 2021–22 crop was small, it came as the 2022–23 bloom was about to begin after a warm December. It …

Citrus Mural Unveiled on National Orange Juice Day

Tacy CalliesFlorida Department of Citrus

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), in partnership with Visit Florida®, is excited to announce the new installation of a hand-painted mural by artist Lauren Hom. Beginning May 4 (National Orange Juice Day), visitors can view the new Florida citrus themed art at the Florida Welcome Center in Jacksonville. Visitors who stop at the center will be able to take …

Update on HLB-Tolerant/Resistant Tree Programs

Josh McGillFlorida Department of Citrus, HLB Management, Varieties

The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) in March heard updates on programs intended to provide growers with HLB-tolerant or -resistant trees and on other Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) scientific research programs. Director of Scientific Research Rosa Walsh provided the updates. The FCC serves as the FDOC’s governing board. Walsh announced that for the FDOC’s Program for Expedited Propagation, all materials …

Juice Prices Climb; Volume Sales Drop

Josh McGillFlorida Department of Citrus, Orange Juice, sales

Orange juice (OJ) and grapefruit juice prices climbed in the four-week period ending Feb. 25 compared to the same period in 2022, but volume sales dipped. Marisa Zansler, Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) economic and market research director, presented that FDOC Nielsen report information to the Florida Citrus Commission on March 15. The FCC is the governing board of the …

In Defense of Florida’s Citrus Industry

Josh McGillEconomics

By Marisa L. Zansler The Florida citrus industry has endured many challenges throughout its storied history, but never more so than over the past 18 years. During this time, the devastating impact of HLB has become more apparent and entrenched as the root cause of declines in the production of oranges, grapefruit and specialty citrus. HLB, combined with recent weather-related …

citrus production

Florida Processed Orange Standards Reduced

Josh McGillFlorida Citrus Commission, Florida Department of Citrus, Regulation

The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on Feb. 22 reduced processed orange maturity standards for the remainder of this season due to the negative effects of 2022’s Hurricane Ian. The emergency rule, proposed by the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), requires that all processed oranges have a Brix value of no less than 7.0. The rule also stipulates that there shall …

Department of Citrus Responding to Media and Promoting OJ

Josh McGillFlorida 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 …

Florida Citrus Marketed Internationally

Josh McGillFlorida Department of Citrus, International, Marketing

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) is continuing to work on retail promotions with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Pan-Europe, France and Canada. Katie Bruce, international marketing manager, told the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) about those and other international efforts in December. The FCC serves as the governing board for the FDOC. The Canadian retail program …

Promotions Aid OJ Sales

Josh McGillFlorida 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. …

PIECES OF THE PAST: Doing Together What Cannot Be Done Alone

Josh McGillPieces of the Past

By Brenda Eubanks Burnette Frank Sullivan III, of Sullivan Victory Groves, recently gave me a few boxes of his gift fruit catalogs, books, records and memorabilia for the Citrus Archives. Since December always reminds me of sending gift fruit to friends and family, it’s only appropriate that I share this story. One of the items he donated was a booklet …

Dreyfus Orange Juice Has 30% Less Sugar

Tacy CalliesOrange Juice

Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has announced the development of a new product made from not-from-concentrate (NFC) orange juice that offers a 30% reduction in natural sugar content. The new product has more than triple the dietary fiber content while preserving original taste (Brix value) and vitamin C level, the company stated.     The product is the result of a five-year effort …

OJ Sales Impacted by Inflation

Josh McGillFlorida Department of Citrus, Orange Juice, sales

Approximately 67% of total orange juice (OJ) is consumed through retail channels, and as much as 93% of not-from-concentrate (NFC) OJ is consumed through retail channels. The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) learned these statistics at its Oct. 26 meeting. Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) Economic and Market Research Director Marisa Zansler provided the information, along with other citrus juice sales …

Department of Citrus Budget Reduced Slightly

Josh McGillFlorida Citrus Commission, Florida Department of Citrus

The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on Oct. 26 approved a Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) 2022–23 budget that is only $123,000 less than a preliminary budget approved in June. Approval of the $29.795 million budget came less than a month after Hurricane Ian knocked much of the state’s citrus crop to the ground and damaged trees. The FCC serves as …

Consumer Responses to High Grocery Prices

Josh McGillEconomics, Florida Department of Citrus, Orange Juice

By Marisa L. Zansler and Lijun (Angelia) Chen Throughout 2022, consumer demand for goods and services remained strong despite the highest rate of inflation in 40 years. Many Americans resumed leisure travel and purchased luxury items, such as new cars. Movement of Florida citrus products remained near 2019 levels. Consumers were spending vigorously at grocery stores even as prices increased. …

Gift Fruit Marketing Plan Set

Josh McGillFlorida Department of Citrus, Fresh, Marketing

The Gift Fruit Shippers Advisory Council on Sept. 22 agreed with a Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC)-recommended marketing program that includes driving consumers to the Florida Gift Fruit website. The program will begin in early November and conclude in mid-February with a strong focus on gift-giving messaging. This will come to life through social channels via organic and paid social …

Nurseries Approved for Expedited Propagation Program

Josh McGillFlorida Citrus Commission, Florida Department of Citrus, nurseries

The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) on Aug. 24 approved agreements with 25 nurseries for the Program for Expedited Propagation of HLB Tolerant and Resistant Trees. The nurseries are: Agromillora Florida Inc. Ben Hill Griffin Inc. Blue Heron Nurseries LLC Brewer Citrus LLC Brite Leaf Citrus Nursery LLC Citrific Holdings Inc. CitriSun Nurseries LLC Cutrale Farms Inc. Dilley Citrus Nursery Inc. …

Non-Certified Donaldson Trees: Limited Availability for Growers

Josh McGillFlorida Department of Citrus, HLB Management

The Florida Department of Citrus’ Program for Expedited Propagation (PEP) of HLB-tolerant and resistant trees was conceived during the 2022 Florida legislative session following the discovery of the Donaldson tree among the collection at Whitmore Farms. The goal is to provide the resources needed to ramp up availability of Donaldson trees and others like it, so that growers interested in …

florida

CRDF Board Acts on Research Recommendations

Josh McGillCRDF, Research

The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) board of directors spent much of its monthly meeting in July considering recommendations from the foundation’s research management committee (RMC). TRACKING TREESThe RMC recommended that a request for proposals be put forth to create an inventory of all germplasm existing in field trials from the plant breeding programs CRDF has helped to fund. …