Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) has introduced the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act, a piece of legislation aimed at supporting Florida citrus growers by streamlining regulations and reducing bureaucratic hurdles. Senators Rick Scott and Congressman Scott Franklin are also backing the bill.
The legislation seeks to modernize existing standards to assist Florida’s citrus industry, which has faced significant challenges in recent years.
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“The Sunshine State is world famous for our fresh-from-Florida orange juice and many folks in our state depend on this industry being protected for their livelihoods,” said Senator Moody. “This legislation would modernize standards to protect citrus growers who have dealt with many hardships over the past several years. I am proud to stand with our great Florida citrus growers and support their hard work that benefits families across our nation.”
Senator Rick Scott echoed Moody’s sentiments, stating, “Floridians and orange juice aficionados alike love the fresh-squeezed Florida orange juice that our state is known for and our citrus growers work hard to produce. Our bill, the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act, will support domestic growers who have faced severe hardship over the past years and ensure federal regulations aren’t working against their success, while preserving the quality of our orange juice for American families to enjoy.”
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Congressman Scott Franklin highlighted the need to address outdated standards, saying, “Outdated standards and needless red tape are standing in the way of Florida citrus’s big comeback. While slow-moving FDA bureaucrats take years to deliberate a small regulatory adjustment, our growers are losing out on profit to foreign producers and struggling to keep their operations afloat. This simple fix throws them a lifeline, allowing more domestic product to come to market without sacrificing quality for consumers.”
The bill proposes that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lower the required sugar/solids content (brix standard) in not-from-concentrate pasteurized orange juice from 10.5 percent to 10 percent weight of orange juice soluble solids.
Industry leaders, including Jeb Smith, President of Florida Farm Bureau, and Matt Joyner, Executive Vice President and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, have expressed their support for the legislation, emphasizing its importance in ensuring the competitiveness and sustainability of Florida’s citrus industry.
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