Bleak OJ Outlook? The Rise and Demise of Orange Futures

In Holland we have this saying “cucumber time”… the lull in or just before the summer when not that much “news” is happening.

And with a day of just a bit less news, there is actually a lot going on (hello Holland!)… If there are topic you think need attention, please reach out or pass me a link with something. We’ll make sure Juice News stays filled the coming weeks!

Juice News 🧃

Packaging industry responds to rapid changes in beverages

A recent white paper from PMMI illustrates a surge in investment and innovation, particularly in equipment, to meet demand in this booming market. According to PMMI’s research, 68% of beverage companies anticipate moderate to significant increases in packaging machinery investments over the next two to three years. Plus, nearly 90% are planning to purchase equipment. These investments are fueled by a trio of major factors: company expansion, consumer demand, and advancements in technology.

CarbonQuest Enters Food & Beverage Industry with On-Site CO2 Capture and Reuse Technology

CarbonQuest, a leading distributed carbon capture technology provider, today announced that it has entered the food & beverage market with its first beverage industry customer in Washington state. CarbonQuest’s point-source carbon capture technology captures carbon emissions from the customer’s facility before they are released into the atmosphere, then liquifies the captured CO2 on-site. The CO2 is purified to ISBT standard beverage grade, which is recycled on-site by the facility for use in its product. This project will capture an estimated 22,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions over a 15-year period.

POS: Pressed Juicery Enters The Sparkling Beverage Category With New Line Of Functional Drinks

The California-based company—best known for its cold-pressed juices and plant-based soft serve—is introducing the drinks as part of a larger effort to evolve its stores into more dynamic wellness hubs. Made fresh in-store, each Refresher combines cold-pressed juice, functional wellness shots, and fruit toppings, with optional boosts like collagen, creatine, and L-glutamine. The drinks are designed to fit into a variety of daily routines: from a post-workout option to a lighter alternative to coffee or soda.

Pakistan: Fruit Juice Industry calls on Govt to scrap 20pc Tax in Budget 2025-26

Fruit Juice Council (FJC) called on government to intervene and recommend the abolition of the 20% Federal Excise Duty (FED), along with the 18% General Sales Tax (GST), on packaged fruit juices in the upcoming Federal Budget 2024–25.

In formal letter, Council warned that the current tax regime is severely damaging the rural fruit economy, particularly in Punjab, while disrupting the value chain of pulping units and juice manufacturers, and threatening a potential export target of PKR 100 billion by 2028.

Athena's Glow Drink Launches Line of Wellness Beverages for Women

In May 2025, the MAR Advantage team launched its ready-to-drink (RTD) Athena's Glow Drink, which blends natural ingredients with real benefits for women aged 45+. MAR Advantage had one major goal in mind when creating Athena's Glow Drink: to meet the unique wellness needs of women in their prime who are thriving, health-conscious, and ready for a product that speaks to their lifestyle in a way the industry often overlooks.

Citrus News 🍊

No More Juice - The Rise and Fall of Orange Juice Futures

Domestic fundamentals for OJ remain shaky. The USDA forecasts a 25% drop in Valencia orange production this season in the US, with Florida’s output expected to be 38% smaller than last year’s. Greening disease continues to harm groves, and Florida’s citrus acreage keeps shrinking due to both infection and land development.

While the US supply picture looks bleak, the global story shifted in early 2025. As Florida’s production has collapsed nearly 90% since 2005, the US has leaned more heavily on imports, especially from Brazil and Mexico. In 2024, the US brought in over 400,000 metric tons of orange juice, the highest level in nearly a decade. Then, in early 2025, Brazil projected a massive crop rebound of 300 million boxes, up 30% from the previous year. Along with US tariff concerns, Brazil’s expected surge in supply also contributed to OJ's price drop.

Research Worth Reading 🔬

Valorization of apple pomace by extraction of insoluble dietary fiber and production of IDF-enriched apple juice using different levels of hydrocolloids

This study examines the effect of different drying methods (hot air oven, microwave, and freeze drying) on the quality characteristics of apple pomace (AP) to enhance its value as a byproduct.

Regulatory effects of gibberellin and cytokinin on citrus peel cell wall metabolism

During citrus fruit development, exogenous gibberellin (GA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA, a synthetic cytokinin (CTK)) are both known to promote citrus peel thickness; however, the differences in their regulatory mechanisms on cell wall metabolism in citrus peels remain unclear. In this study, we found that GA treatment significantly increased cell wall polysaccharides in citrus peels, such as pectin and cellulose, whereas 6-BA treatment led to a notable accumulation of lignin.

Integrating multi-omics analysis unravels the molecular mechanisms underlying variations in bioactive flavonoids in Citrus reticulata ‘Chachi’ grafted onto different citrus rootstocks

• A total of 1276 metabolites were identified in the fruit peels of Citrus reticulata 'Chachi'.

• Differentially accumulated metabolites were predominantly enriched in flavonoids in homo-grafts and hetero-grafts group.

• Transcripts associated with high flavonoids were 4CL, CHS, CHI, FNS, and FLS.