Orange Juice Crisis: Production Down 90%, Consumption Down 50% In Past Two Decades

Orange juice is losing its spot at the breakfast table. U.S. consumption has dropped almost 50% in 20 years. Meanwhile, Florida’s citrus production has fallen by more than 90% during the same period, due to a disease affecting its orange groves.

A LOOK AT THE DECLINE
At its 1998 peak, Florida produced 244 million boxes of oranges; the USDA forecasts about 11-12 million boxes this season. Over the past decade, concentrated orange juice prices have reached $4.50 per 16 oz, up from $2.70 a decade ago.

• Consumption decline comes amid doctors warning OJ has as much sugar as soda — and may be contributing to obesity and diabetes.

• Florida’s groves have also been ravaged by climate change and a bacterial disease called citrus greening.

  • The disease, spread by an invasive insect, slowly kills trees and leaves them vulnerable to storms.

• To help growers, the Trump administration has loosened the FDA’s definition of orange juice — lowering the required dissolved solids from 10.5% to 10%.

Bottom line: With prices up, crops down, and health concerns rising, OJ’s golden era may be gone for good.

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