Latest news with #DefendingDomesticOrangeJuiceProductionAct
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal bill to lower sugar in orange juice could help Florida's struggling citrus industry
A new federal bill could sweeten the deal for Florida's struggling citrus industry. The bill aims to lower how sweet orange juice has to be. The 'Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act' would reduce the required sugar level in pasteurized orange juice from 10.5% to 10%. Supporters say the shift would allow Florida growers to use more local fruit and rely less on imported juice. 'Our citrus industry, both our growers and our distributors, are really struggling. Until we can get a handle on this greening and this disease, we have got to make sure they are not in any way unduly burdened,' said Florida U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody. Florida's citrus industry has lost nearly 90% of its production over the last three decades, and supporters say this bill could help keep it alive. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sen. Ashley Moody aims to roll back 60s-era citrus regulation as growers face mounting challenges
The Brief U.S. Senator Ashley Moody has sponsored legislation aiming to roll back a longstanding citrus regulation. The "Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act" aims to lower the sugar standard in orange juice. Growers are facing mounting challenges, including greening and hurricanes. LAKE WALES, Fla. - Polk County is one of the top producers of orange juice in the state, and its citrus growers have faced numerous challenges, including government over-regulation, which U.S. Senator Ashley Moody says she is fighting to change. During a press conference at Florida's Natural Growers Visitor Center on Tuesday morning, Moody announced that she is sponsoring the "Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act," which would roll back a regulation from the 1960s. Dig deeper The act would lower the Brix standard from 10.5% sugar content to 10%, which won't affect quality or taste. "As if greening wasn't enough and the storms weren't enough, our growers are now forced to fight our own federal agencies and regulations that make absolutely no sense," said Moody. Proponents say it will affect how many citrus growers rely on foreign fruit. As storms and diseases have affected the natural sugar content of their fruits, farmers have had to import juice to create a blend that meets the standard. Lowering the standard would better reflect the natural makeup of today's crop and give producers a more competitive advantage. "We've seen a reduction because of stress in regard to quality, so in order to be able to assist these producers, growers need a lower standard to be able to accommodate what quality they do have because that quality is diminished," said Jeb Smith, the president of the Florida Farm Bureau. Local perspective Florida's Natural Growers, headquartered in Lake Wales, supports the legislation. It's a 90-year-old citrus juice co-op, which means hundreds of citrus farmers own it. "We have a legacy of overcoming agricultural challenges with resilience and care," said CEO Christopher Groom. "Our mission is to support farmer-owners while also delivering high-quality, great-tasting juice to consumers across the country." The legislation is a simple fix that proponents say offers growers a lifeline. U.S. Representatives Scott Franklin and Debbie Wasserman Schultz have sponsored this bill in the House. The Source FOX 13's Carla Bayron collected the information in this story. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sen. Moody, growers say this change could help save the citrus industry
LAKE WALES, Fla. (WFLA) — Sen. Ashley Moody (R – Florida) visited Lake Wales Tuesday, advocating for a bill she introduced to lower federal sugar standards for pasteurized orange juice. Polk County remains one of the top citrus growing counties in Florida. Polk County citrus grower swaps crop to avocados 'If we're going to give them a chance to survive, a chance to stay afloat, we've got to cut off those weights,' said Sen. Moody. Moody, Florida's Attorney General turned U.S. Senator, said this is why she likes working in Congress. 'I used to litigate against this nonsense. Now, I get to actually have a voice in calling it nonsense and trying to do something about it,' she said. She and Sen. Rick Scott (R – Florida) have re-introduced the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act. It would lower the federally required sugar level in pasteurized orange juice, known as the Brix level, from 10.5% to 10%. 'It is nonsense. It does not affect quality. It does not affect taste. The only thing it does is kneecap our Florida citrus growers,' said Sen. Moody. Growers said the devastating greening disease and hurricanes have ravaged citrus groves and altered the sugar levels in Florida oranges. In order to meet the required Brix level, growers have to blend their product with imported juice from other countries. 'This act will protect our growers in Florida, make sure we don't have to rely on foreign interests and foreign companies and ship their product in here,' said Sen. Moody. 'To comply you have to compromise that product. At this point, it would make producers here have a much better and easier advantage,' said Jeb Smith, president of the Florida Farm Bureau. Smith said the current state of Florida's citrus industry is 'dismal' but has hope it can rebound. 'The citrus industry is still in a decline but as I say, the land's still there. The growers' are still there. They're just looking for an answer and if they can find a cure or some way to combat that they will be able to continue in the industry,' said Smith. Smith said dropping the Brix standard by half a percentage point would mean growers would have to import less juice from other countries. This comes at a time when imported produce could be subject to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Smith said there are pros and cons to tariffs for Florida citrus growers, which could incentivize purchasing Florida-grown oranges. As with all agriculture sectors, growers need potassium to grow their crop, which comes from other countries, including Canada, in the form of 'potash.' 'We import a tremendous amount of potassium into this country which is a macronutrient which is necessary for production of anything. Most of that product, that mineral, are outside the boundaries of the United States,' said Smith. Representatives Scott Franklin and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, bipartisan members of Florida's congressional delegation, have introduced the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act in the House. A version of the bill has been introduced in Congress since at least 2023. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
