Do Mature Donaldson Oranges Offer an Alternative to Hamlin for OJ?

For many a more quiet week… but darn there is so much happening.

I will send out a more personal update soon… but in short: if you require my services, please reach out. 😇 

Juice News 🧃

Anheuser-Busch taps UFC’s Dana White for a new energy drink

Launching nationwide Wednesday is Phorm Energy, the company’s newest energy drink. The non-alcoholic caffeinated beverage marks the first product stemming from Anheuser-Busch’s previously announced partnership with White aimed at expanding into the $24 billion energy drinks category.

Like similar products, Phorm Energy has zero sugar or artificial flavors, contains electrolytes and is naturally caffeinated from green tea extract. The drink comes in four varieties: grape, orange, blue, and “Screamin’ Freedom,” which is a mixture of blueberry, cherry and citrus flavors. A 16-ounce can costs $2.99.

Mindful drinking prompts growth for THC beverages

“Recreationally, cannabis is increasingly mainstream as people are looking for beverages for their social occasions — absent common downsides one can often feel the next day,” he says. “More than half of all adults now say they’ve tried cannabis with the younger generations at an even higher percentage.”

Darnell Smith, founder and CEO of MXXN, Mill Valley, Calif., says it’s exciting to see those who previously had a “never cannabis” mindset open up to experiencing infused beverages.

Opinion: Sugary drinks, processed foods, alcohol and tobacco are big killers: why the G20 should add its weight to health taxes

The countries under the G20 umbrella, which represent two thirds of the world’s population, have reason to act: all are experiencing a mounting burden of obesity-related illness such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer at ever-younger ages.

One of South Africa’s G20 presidency health priorities is “stemming the tide of non-communicable diseases”. In the writers’ view this is an invitation for the G20 to pledge to combat the drivers of non-communicable diseases.

Vit D food fortification a ‘major industry challenge’ - until now

Microencapsulation technology from start-up Xampla presents a potential solution. In fresh research published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Cambridge University spin-out successfully shows its pea protein-based microcapsules (which are quite literally microscopic in size at around 19 microns across) can protect sensitive functional ingredients in food and drink.

Scientists wrapped Vitamin D2 (a type of Vitamin D found in plants and yeast) in Xampla’s spray-dried plant protein microcapsules to test how the fat-soluble nutrient fared throughout food manufacturing, storing and digestion.

RFK Jr. Picks a Fight With Coke and Pepsi. The Odds Are Against Him

Don’t expect the soda industry to give up without a fight. While the USDA manages SNAP, it isn’t authorized to restrict certain purchases on a federal level. Even for the state-level waiver requests, soda companies could either challenge the rule through an administrative appeal or file a lawsuit seeking an injunction to stop the ban from being enforced, says RBC’s Modi.

Juiced Dry: How Tax Policy is strangling Pakistan’s Juice Industry and Economy with it

The packaged juice industry in Pakistan, once projected to surpass Rs72 billion in annual sales, is now a shadow of its former self. Crippled by a cumulative tax burden of 42%, a 20% federal excise duty stacked on top of an 18% general sales tax, this sector has seen a sharp 45% decline in revenue, now barely reaching Rs42 billion. Far from being just a beverage issue, the contraction has had broad economic consequences: factories are scaling back, jobs are lost, and investment has ground to a halt.

Citrus News 🍊

Mature Donaldson orange varieties are a potential alternative to OJ's Hamlin

U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service scientists in Fort Pierce, Florida, are assessing the possibility of the Donaldson orange variety replacing the HLB-ravaged Hamlin in orange juice.

Researchers conducted taste tests to study the differences between OJ blends using Hamlin and Donaldson oranges and found that taste testers noted that there was a difference between the two juices. However, researcher Matt Mattia, USDA-ARS research geneticist, said that "those differences may be explained by the lower acidity in fruits from young Hamlin trees.”

Florida Department of Citrus 2025–26 Marketing Plan

The team stated that it plans to expand on the True Original campaign to reinforce the value of Florida orange juice (OJ) for modern juice consumers and health professionals.

To reach and engage health professionals, the team plans to leverage credentialed health and wellness experts to create awareness as well as drive credibility while amplifying evidence-backed health and nutrition information on 100% OJ.

South Africa: Govt backs citrus exports with $2.8bln Transnet guarantee

As oranges begin moving to export markets, the CGA appreciates the preparational steps taken by Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), including recruiting 256 additional fixed-term staff, maintaining all refrigerated container plug points, and adding 100 new pieces of equipment.

"There are challenges on the horizon, but if all goes well, Southern Africa is expected to export 171,3 million 15kg cartons of citrus, according to the latest figures," says Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO of the CGA. He adds: "Shifting produce in an efficient and timely way is essential to the profitability of our industry. The season has started smoothly, but the real test will be the peak over the next two months."

Research Worth Reading 🔬

High-value products from ground spent coffee, sunflower, and citrus waste using enzyme technology

Enzyme-treated citrus extracts exhibited increased reducing sugar content, significant antimicrobial activity, and inhibition of microbial biofilms. Moreover, citrus extracts were non-toxic to healthy cells while showing pronounced effects against metastatic melanoma cells. These findings underscore the potential of citrus waste as a valuable source of bioactive compounds and highlight EAE as an effective and sustainable extraction technique.

Investigation on Flavor Compounds, Antioxidant Properties, and Sensory Attributes in Pear Juices

These results indicated P. ussuriensis juices possessed distinctive characteristics of higher sourness, lower sweetness, rich aroma, and potential health benefits, which will provide foundational information to support the development of the pear juice industry in China.