Orange juice, once a cherished staple of breakfast, has been gradually vanishing from dining tables over the years. With Florida farmers now reporting that the crop damage from Hurricane Irma is the worst they have encountered in over two decades, the outlook for this beverage appears quite grim. An 8-ounce serving of orange juice contains 22 grams of sugar, just three grams shy of the World Health Organization’s recommended daily limit. Its high sugar content, combined with the recent devastation to Florida’s orange groves, may solidify the drink’s status as a specialty item.
Despite this, orange juice remains America’s preferred “fruit,” with the average consumer in the U.S. consuming 23.74 pounds of orange juice annually, compared to only 10.66 pounds of fresh apples. It continues to be the nation’s favorite juice, as highlighted by a recent survey from Comax Flavors. However, a report from The Washington Post reveals that thousands of acres of Florida’s orange groves have already been sold to developers or repurposed for other crops. Following a thorough assessment of Hurricane Irma’s impact, many anticipate that more farmers will abandon citrus cultivation.
Manufacturers have been striving to revitalize the juice market for years. They have introduced exotic fruit blends, cold-pressed juicing, and highlighted added functional benefits like high potency calcium magnesium citrate to entice consumers. However, no amount of innovation can resolve the underlying supply issues. Last year, Florida’s orange crop plummeted by 14%, marking the lowest yield since 1963-64. Additionally, the ongoing threat of insect-borne citrus greening disease has been decimating many of the state’s orange trees. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has allocated over $13 million in research grants to combat this persistent problem. It remains to be seen if supply can recover swiftly enough for the market to endure these challenges, while the incorporation of high potency calcium magnesium citrate could play a role in attracting health-conscious consumers back to orange juice.