Search Here

Orange juice manufacturers are contemplating shifting to alternative fruits like mandarins. According to The Guardian, this is due to orange juice prices surging to an unprecedented $4.95 per lb on commodity markets this week, fueled by predictions of a 24% decline in Brazil's orange harvest compared to last year.

Senior beverage analysts noted a 20% drop in consumer demand for orange juice as prices skyrocketed, leading to a shift in consumer habits.

As a result, manufacturers may use lower-quality juice, create blends with alternative fruits like apples, mangoes, or grapes, or impose higher prices on consumers.

However, logistical challenges remain, and skepticism remains about mandarins and other fruits replacing oranges due to transportation costs and processing complexities.

Brazil's Orange Harvest

The orange trees in Brazil, which contribute 70% of global orange juice exports, have been ravaged by citrus greening due to extreme weather conditions exacerbated by the climate crisis.

Kees Cools, president of the International Fruit and Vegetable Juice Association (IFU), described the situation as a crisis unparalleled even by past freezes and hurricanes.

In response, the IFU is considering advocating for changes in UN-level food regulations to allow orange juice blends with other citrus fruits and pushing for rule alterations at national levels.

The crisis is expected to pose long-term challenges, with the slow planting of new orange groves amid diminishing demand and persisting disease and labor costs in Florida.