Strategic Partnership between Limoneira and Sunkist

We do not plays with toys enough anymore. In many cases, building with a model of the real deal is not only fun, but sparks new insights and gives more reference for the reality.

More playtime this summer break… be creative.

Juice News 🧃

How To Build A Beverage Brand During the Most Competitive Time In History

With the shift in consumer behavior, creating a beverage brand is more competitive than ever. Customer loyalty is not what it once was. The craft beer craze was a perfect example of how consumers shifted from being consistent brand loyalists to grabbing products they’ve never tried before on a regular basis to try them out. The same goes for the non-alcoholic beverage industry as well. While this change in consumer behavior has given emerging brands the opportunity for immediate sales, it brings on a new challenge.

The CEO giving Keurig Dr Pepper a massive energy jolt

Tim Cofer is an M&A veteran who has helped power Dr Pepper past Pepsi and is building the industry’s most aggressive, creative player.

What's in Carlos Alcaraz's kit bag? Pickle juice to fight mid-match cramps

Alcaraz is no stranger to cramping. In a previous French Open match against Novak Djokovic, what began as a thrilling contest turned heartbreaking after cramps overtook him — not just in his legs, but in his arms and even his core. It wasn’t a question of talent; it was biology turning traitor.

Fast forward to this year’s final. Learning from experience, Alcaraz came better prepared — physically, mentally, and perhaps even nutritionally. Between games, he was seen sipping something in a small bottle. That something? Reportedly, pickle juice.

More Than 19,000 Cases of a Popular Soda Were Just Recalled in 3 States

On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that 19,203 cases of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar cans have been recalled by Pepsi Beverages Company. PepsiCo Beverages North America owns brands such as Pepsi, Gatorade, Mountain Dew, and Dr Pepper, according to the company website. The report indicates that the product was recalled due to it containing the “full sugar product,” despite the label claiming to contain a “Zero Sugar” soda.

Why nonalcoholic beer is becoming so popular worldwide

Experts pointed to waning alcohol sales and growing health concerns as major drivers. Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in January released an advisory warning of the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. That same month, advertising and sales measurement technology firm NCSolutions released a survey that found 49% of Americans planned to drink less in 2025, up from 41% in 2024.

Nebraska SNAP ban on soda and energy drinks

The new policy, approved by the USDA through a federal waiver, will take effect in late 2025. It bans the purchase of sugary beverages like soda and energy drinks using SNAP funds. Officials say the change will help promote healthier diets among low-income households. The ban applies to all 152,000 Nebraska residents currently enrolled in SNAP. According to state health officials, the restriction aims to reduce sugar consumption and prevent long-term health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.

Citrus News 🍊

Limoneira Announces Strategic Citrus Sales and Marketing Operations Merger with Sunkist Growers

Limoneira Company (the “Company” or “Limoneira”) (Nasdaq: LMNR), a diversified citrus growing, packing, selling and marketing company with related agribusiness activities and real estate development operations, today announced a strategic merger of its citrus sales and marketing operations with Sunkist Growers, Inc. (“Sunkist”), creating a powerful platform to serve food service and retail sectors. Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, Limoneira will return to Sunkist as one of their largest lemon growers and an exclusive Sunkist private licensed packer. This strategic reunion is expected to generate $5 million in annual cost savings and EBITDA improvement starting in fiscal year 2026 through planned streamlined operations and enhanced supply chain efficiency.

South African citrus and pear shipments face scrutiny amid oversupply and market disruption in India

Indian fruit importers are voicing growing concern over the continued oversupply of South African mandarins and pears. This trend has led to significant market disruption and price erosion, particularly in the case of varieties like Nadorcott mandarins and Forelle pears.

Korean Beverage Consumption Up 20% in 5 Years

The average daily beverage consumption of Koreans has increased by more than 20% over the past five years, with teenagers and those in their 20s and 30s still consuming a high proportion of carbonated drinks containing large amounts of sugar. However, the most popular beverage among adults was found to be sugar-free coffee, such as Americano. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on June 9 the beverage consumption status of the public based on the results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey food intake survey for the past five years (2019-2023).

Swedish beverage innovator calls for global citizens’ alliance to tackle plastic crisis

Ahead of the UN Global Plastic Treaty negotiations in Geneva this August and the current 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France (June 9–13), Bluewater says the issue needs a powerful international coalition of citizens, scientists, health experts, NGOs, and responsible businesses to confront the plastic crisis head-on. “Plastic pollution isn’t just a planetary threat – it’s a human health catastrophe,” said Bengt Rittri, founder and CEO of Bluewater. “We need bold, binding action to ban toxic plastic chemicals and end the era of fossil-fuel-based single-use plastic bottles. If governments fail to act, consumers must rise and lead.”

Research Worth Reading 🔬

Unveiling Citrus fruit Temperature Heterogeneity during Refrigerated Trailer Transport by Multiphysics Simulations

The results demonstrate that the simulations effectively capture the physical processes occurring in the refrigerated trailer, with accuracy improving as the initial and boundary conditions, including precooling temperature variability and cargo heterogeneity, are more precisely defined. Furthermore, the simulations highlight how insufficient precooling of certain pallets, along with inappropriate packaging and loading, can adversely affect the entire cargo. Physics-based models show great potential for evaluating various scenarios to optimize refrigerated transport.

Japanese plum juice may help lower blood pressure

esearchers from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University may have found a promising natural alternative: juice made from the Japanese plum, a fruit known in Japan as “Ume.” This plum is commonly eaten in many parts of Asia and has long been used as a health food in Japan. The juice concentrate, known as bainiku-ekisu, has been used as a health supplement since the 1700s. The raw Japanese plum cannot be eaten as is, because it contains natural toxins. But once it’s processed into juice or wine, it becomes safe and may even have healing properties.

GMOs May Save Florida Citrus

The University of Florida in collaboration with the company Soilcea, has developed a GMO orange that is highly resistant to citrus greening. They expect to have commercial trees available by the Spring of 2027. The limiting factor is that it takes years to grow test trees to see that they remain resistant and produce viable fruit. So far the test trees are doing well.

Food as Medicine: How fruit-based compounds could prevent cancer

Brazilian researchers developed techniques to extract pectin from the albedo of oranges and passion fruit – the white part between the peel and the pulp that is normally discarded when the fruit is processed to make juice – and to modify it in the laboratory to reduce its molecular complexity in order to increase its biological activity. The development resulted in a patent for the process of extracting pectin from fleshy fruits such as papaya and chayote. A second patent covering the modification of pectin from passion fruit by-products is in the process of being filed.