The next big squeeze: Florida orange juice could skyrocket in price

[Zorro]

A citrus disease, freezing temperatures and more supply chain problems mean growers can’t meet heightened demand for the state’s “liquid gold.”

The next grocery item families could see skyrocketing in price: Florida orange juice.

The state’s orange crop will be the smallest since World War II, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report earlier this month. And the threats to Florida’s “liquid gold” continue: Weather forecasters predict this weekend’s freezing temperatures in Florida will further hurt the season’s crop.

Florida is the country’s largest producer of juice oranges, at its peak producing 244 million boxes of oranges annually. This year, the USDA predicts that will fall to only 44.5 million.

Demand for orange juice had cooled in recent years as consumers became concerned about the amount of sugar in fruit juices. But covid brought it back.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/01/29/orange-juice-prices-skyrocket/

[Klaralven]

1. Citrus greening bacteria and the Asian citrus psyllid insect have greatly reduced Florida oranges

Florida orange crop getting wiped out by tree-killing disease

https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-florida-orange-juice-crop-disease-20151124-story.html

Brazil is the big orange juice producer. Of course, we have to compete with the rest of the world for Brazilian juice.

[Patterson]

2. It seems like this happens every year.

[Buckeyeblue]

3. It's really not all that great for you. Very high in sugar.

[yardwork]

4. That's true. Drinking orange juice is about the same as drinking soda.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

5. It's OK, we'll just stick with our Kentucky orange juice.

Available by the truckload at Walmart...........

Just kidding, I can't stand the stuff but admit my son loves it.


Best of luck to Florida orange grove farmers..... .....I believe they're already fighting a deadly disease or insect problem.

KY