New Virtual UF/IFAS OJ Breaks for Growers

Ernie NeffEducation

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension citrus program is launching a webinar series of OJ Breaks free to all Florida citrus growers. The twice-a-month meeting series will provide the latest information on grove production practices and research findings.  The series will be delivered via Zoom and start Dec. 15. “COVID-19 has made it difficult …

Study Shows OJ Benefits for Children

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

A new study finds that children who drink 100 percent orange juice (OJ) as part of a healthy diet have better overall diet quality and consume more nutrients than those who do not. The research also adds to a growing body of evidence showing consumption of 100 percent OJ has no impact on weight in children. Authors of the study …

new york times

Marketing OJ Amidst COVID-19

Tacy CalliesMarketing, Orange Juice

Each month, the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) and partner agency, Edible, dig deep into current consumer behaviors to gain insights on how messaging and marketing programs could be adapted for the greatest success. In a recent webinar, Kim McAndrews, senior vice president and food and beverage strategic planner for Edible, discussed the rapidly changing environment of COVID-19 and the …

Joint Culturing Project for HLB?

Ernie NeffResearch

Four researchers from around the country summarized their work on culturing the causal agent of HLB and agreed to consider a large, joint culturing project. The Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) hosted the panel discussion on Nov. 5 about culturing Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). CRDF organized the presentation after receiving a request for funding of a CLas culturing project …

Research to Prove OJ Health Benefits

Ernie NeffOrange Juice, Research

The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) recently approved three research projects aimed at further proving the health benefits of orange juice (OJ) consumption. The OJ-related projects had been recommended by the commission’s Scientific Research Advisory Committee. The projects were discussed by Rosa Walsh, director of the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) Scientific Research Department, during the October FCC meeting. The FCC …

Uncle Matt’s Announces New OJ

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

Uncle Matt’s Organic recently announced the launch of its Ultimate Immune orange juice beverage. It is made with organic orange juice, elderberry, vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc. “Over the past six months, families have turned to what they associate with daily immune support: vitamin C-rich orange juice,” said Susan McLean, vice president of marketing and innovation at the company. …

USDA OJ Purchases Set Precedent

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

Marisa Zansler, economist for the Florida Department of Citrus, recently gave the Florida Citrus Commission an update on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Section 32 purchases of orange juice (OJ). A summary of her report follows. The purpose of USDA Section 32 purchases is to help alleviate depressed markets for domestically produced agriculture products. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service also …

bayer crdf

Bayer HLB Project Extended

Ernie NeffHLB Management

A large multi-year Bayer Crop Science project aimed at finding solutions for HLB will be extended by a grant from a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The two-year grant for just over $10 million came from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The grant is to the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) and its …

OJ Proves Beneficial for Youth

Ernie NeffOrange Juice, Research

A new, four-year study published in Public Health Nutrition found that drinking 100 percent orange juice (OJ) is not associated with negative effects on body weight, body mass index (BMI) or BMI percentile among 9- to 16-year-olds. It also found that higher OJ consumption is associated with increased height for girls and increased trends for physical activity levels in both …

OJ Sales at Pre-2017 Levels

Tacy CalliesOrange Juice, sales

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) reports that 100 percent Florida orange juice (OJ) sales finished strong for the 2019–20 season. FOR THE PERIODMarisa Zansler, FDOC director of economic and market research, gave an in-depth overview of the final Nielsen OJ Retail Sales Report for the 2019–20 season through the four-week period ending Sept. 26, 2020. She presented a summary …

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Mexico Exceeds Brazil in OJ Sales to the United States

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

Orange juice (OJ) sales from Mexico to the United States now exceed those from Brazil, according to a recent study by CitrusBR. CitrusBR is an entity representing Citrosuco, Cutrale and Louis Dreyfus, the three largest exporters of Brazilian OJ. The study indicates sales from Mexico to the United States began to gain strength in 1993 and have skyrocketed since 2008. …

CRDF Defers Project Funding

Ernie NeffResearch

Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) directors on Sept. 22 had a lengthy discussion about a nutrition research proposal from Rhuanito (Johnny) Ferrarezi. Ferrarezi is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences assistant professor at the Indian River Research and Education Center. Because of budgetary concerns expressed by CRDF, Ferrarezi cut $158,000 from his original proposed project …

new york times

Season’s OJ Sales Up Nearly 13 Percent

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

The increase in sales of U.S. orange juice (OJ) that began during the early days of COVID-19 is continuing, according to Marisa Zansler, director of the Florida Department of Citrus Economic and Market Research Department. Zansler told the Florida Citrus Commission on Sept. 16 that as consumers began to adapt to a new normal while still living under COVID-19 conditions, …

orange juice

Keeping the OJ Momentum Going

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) staff has been “hard at work ensuring the momentum experienced by the orange juice (OJ) category earlier this year doesn’t fade as we usher in the fall,” Ned Hancock stated recently. Hancock, chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission, provided that information and more in an update to the citrus industry on FDOC activities. Hancock said …

Mutual Testifies on OJ From Mexico

Ernie NeffMexico

Florida Citrus Mutual Executive Vice President and CEO Mike Sparks recently testified to federal officials regarding the effects of orange juice (OJ) imports from Mexico. His testimony to the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was part of a larger hearing on trade with Mexico and the U.S. …

Industry Split on OJ Marketing Order

Ernie NeffMarketing

A Florida citrus Industry Review Committee has divergent opinions about a possible federal marketing order for orange juice (OJ), Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Mike Sparks reported after the group met last week. “There were some that wanted to roll up their sleeves and continue work. There were a couple of committee members that had heard enough” and didn’t want to …

OJ May Help Lower Blood Pressure

Ernie NeffOrange Juice, Research

A growing body of scientific research shows that 100 percent orange juice (OJ), and its vitamins and minerals, may play a beneficial role in helping to lower blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease. Recently, a randomized control study performed by researchers at Eurecat, Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, in Reus, Spain concluded that 100 percent OJ and 100 percent OJ fortified …

Massive Research Project in Millennium Block

Ernie NeffResearch

Researchers at the resurrected Millennium Block at Fort Pierce will assess the performance of new grapefruit cultivars and evaluate numerous rootstocks in the face of HLB. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher Rhuanito “Johnny” Ferrarezi discusses the history of the block and research planned there. The block is called Millennium because some researchers planted variety …

china

OJ Federal Marketing Order Considered

Ernie NeffMarketing

The Indian River Citrus League (IRCL) recently reported on steps being taken to possibly create a federal marketing order for orange juice (OJ) to increase product demand. As background, the IRCL noted that the Citrus Administrative Committee (CAC) for decades has administered Federal Marketing Order 905 regulating the grade and size of fresh Florida citrus. The same order authorizes assessments …

Crime

Florida Growers Urged to Hear OJ Budget Talks

Ernie NeffOrange Juice

Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ned Hancock urged members of the citrus industry to join the June 17 commission meeting via teleconference. He said the commission will consider several budget scenarios for fruit grown for orange juice (OJ). See information about the meeting here. The commission serves as the governing board for the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). “I expect we …