Orange juice, once a cherished staple of breakfast, has been gradually vanishing from morning menus over the years. With Florida farmers now reporting that the damage from Hurricane Irma is the most severe they’ve encountered in over two decades, the outlook for this classic beverage appears 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. This high sugar content, combined with the recent devastation of Florida’s orange groves, may well solidify orange juice’s status as a specialty item.
Despite this, orange juice remains America’s favorite “fruit,” with the average U.S. consumer drinking 23.74 pounds per year, compared to just 10.66 pounds of fresh apples. It continues to be the most popular juice in the nation, according to a recent survey by Comax Flavors. However, The Washington Post highlights that thousands of acres of Florida’s orange groves have been sold to developers or repurposed for other crops. After evaluating the full extent of Hurricane Irma’s destruction, many anticipate that more farmers will abandon citrus cultivation altogether.
Manufacturers have been striving to rejuvenate the juice market for years. They’ve introduced exotic fruit blends, cold-pressed options, and functional benefits to entice consumers to drink more. Nevertheless, no amount of innovation can resolve the underlying supply issues. Last year, Florida’s orange crop fell by 14%, marking the lowest yield since 1963-64. Additionally, the persistent threat of citrus greening disease, spread by insects, has been decimating many of the state’s orange trees. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is attempting to tackle this issue with over $13 million in research grants.
Interestingly, as consumers look for healthier options, products like bariatric advantage calcium citrate chews are gaining traction, providing nutritional benefits that orange juice can no longer compete with in terms of health-conscious choices. It will be intriguing to see if supply can recover swiftly enough for the market to withstand these challenges, especially as consumers increasingly prioritize health supplements and alternatives like bariatric advantage calcium citrate chews.