Citrus grower thanks Congresswoman for securing water from Mexico

I should be on a plane to São Paulo now… I feel like I’m going to miss out on a big juice event the coming days, but circumstances would not allow for me to partake.

For those attending IFU’s and CitrusBR’s Juice Conference 2025 Brazil: enjoy and send some pictures! 😁 

Juice News 🧃

The rise of functional beverages promising more than just hydration

Consumer interest in functional beverages continues to climb as health and convenience take priority in daily routines. A surge of 258 new product launches in the past year signals how brands are racing to stake their claim in the functional beverage space, using bold health claims and niche ingredients to stand out. These drinks are designed for consumers who want more than refreshment and expect functionality to fit their fast-paced lifestyle. Millennials and Gen Z are driving the shift as they demand more from what they drink. They check ingredients, question claims and expect every bottle to deliver more than hydration. For these consumers, wellness starts with everyday choices and shows up in every sip.

PepsiCo Leans on Gatorade & LIFEWTR: Can Wellness Fuel Growth?

In first-quarter 2025, Gatorade remained a strong performer, especially with innovations like Gatorade Zero and new rapid hydration products. The company is also investing in powders, tablets and other functional hydration options to meet evolving health and wellness demands. Gatorade’s ongoing expansion into performance-focused formats is helping it regain its share in the competitive sports drink market. LIFEWTR, PepsiCo’s premium bottled water brand, is another pillar of the company's health-focused strategy. Positioned as a wellness-driven offering, LIFEWTR taps into the growing consumer interest in premium hydration with clean ingredients and lifestyle-oriented branding.

Optical sorting technology utilized for Norwegian PET beverage container plant

Pellenc ST says that a unique air transport system guarantees low operating costs as well as a clean environment, and the plant is also equipped with the most advanced label removing system ensuring loose labels are collected in big bags.

California’s soda tax war reaches crucial battle in Santa Cruz

The new tax was voted through by residents in November, with a two cent per fluid ounce excise tax on the distribution of sweetened beverage products. But last week, a coalition of beverage distributors, grocers, retailers and restaurant owners have filed a lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court: seeking to halt the soda tax.

Citrus News 🍊

Texas citrus grower thanks Congresswoman De La Cruz for securing water from Mexico

Last week, Rep. De La Cruz shared the Mexican government has agreed to deliver up to 420,000 acre-feet of water between now and October. "We are proud to have a representative in D.C. who embodies the grit of the Texas farming community and is not afraid to buckle down to save our farms and communities.

Research Projects Aiming to Tackle Citrus Greening Get Big Backing

After more than two decades of hope and frustration, the fight against citrus greening (aka, HLB) continues in earnest. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has invested nearly $23 million in 14 research projects as part of its Emergency Citrus Disease Research & Extension (ECDRE) program. The program aims to bring the nation’s top scientists together with citrus industry stakeholders to find solutions that combat and prevent citrus greening (HLB) at the farm-level. According to NIFA, this year’s awards include one coordinated project utilizing gene-editing technologies to speed up the development of non-transgenic HLB-tolerant citrus varieties.

Research Worth Reading 🔬

Assessment of Citrus Water Status Using Proximal Sensing: A Comparative Study of Spectral and Thermal Techniques

This study demonstrated the effectiveness of using proximal sensing tools in precision agriculture and ecosystem monitoring, helping to ensure optimal plant health and water use efficiency.