Florida Citrus Growers Applaud FDA Rule Change Lowering Sugar Standards for Orange Juice

Proposed FDA Rule Change

• 💡 The FDA is considering a new rule to lower the standardized sugar level for pasteurized orange juice from 10.5% to 10%.
• ✅ This proposed change is being applauded by Florida citrus growers, as it is expected to help the struggling industry.

Support for the Citrus Industry

• 🎯 Senator Ashley Moody has been a key advocate for this revision, sponsoring the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act.
• 💰 The rule change is estimated to save Florida growers approximately $50 million.
• 🍊 It will allow more Florida-sourced oranges to be used for juice production, reducing reliance on foreign imports.

Impact on Growers

• 📈 Christian Spinosa, a fifth-generation citrus producer, highlights that this change will allow more of their product to be used for juice, leading to cost savings.
• 📉 The Florida citrus industry has seen a significant decline, with orange production down 92% over the last two decades due to storms and citrus greening.
• 🧑‍🌾 The number of growers has decreased from about 10,000 to around 1,500.
• 🌱 This rule change will enable growers like Spinosa to dedicate more time to addressing critical issues such as citrus greening and developing strategies for high-quality fruit production.

Next Steps

• 🗓️ The FDA will accept comments on the proposed rule until November.
• 📣 A final ruling will be issued after considering all public input.