There’s good news for this season’s Florida orange crop. The USDA’s final citrus forecast offers an upwardly revised report for 2023-2024, increasing the agency’s volume predictions for the year’s end. Florida orange growers are ready to find the silver lining in any positive news, including a one percent production increase compared to last year.
The USDA Revises 2023-2024 Florida Orange Crop Numbers Up One Percent
Orange season in Florida starts in the fall and culminates with mid-summer harvests. The challenges facing the industry are year-round, however. Florida orange growers battle a combination of infectious diseases, natural disasters, and climate change. For an industry facing two decades of declining harvests, this year’s harvest was a positive outlier – by even conservative measures, it held steady to 2022-2023 numbers.
A recent revision from the USDA’s July citrus industry report, Florida’s orange harvest increased 1% to 18 million boxes. That’s a hard-earned (and rare) win for the nation’s number-two orange-producing state.
Florida’s Orange Production Challenges
No crop is perfectly reliable, but Florida’s orange crop was close, growing like clockwork for decades. Florida orange production enjoyed two long periods of rapid growth. From 1965 through 1975, production nearly doubled, only to face a series of freezes through the mid-1980s. Severe winters impacted production levels five times between 1975 and 2000, when the state reached an all-time high of 11 million tons.
Since 2000, crop yields have fallen year-over-year in 15 of the past 23 growing seasons, and the net decline has cut Florida’s yield production by 92%.
Orange Crops Impacted by Disease, Natural Disasters
Infectious diseases have replaced seasonal frost as the biggest threat to Florida’s orange crops. First, citrus canker disease spread from a relatively small number of groves to more parts of the state. Initially discovered in 1910 and thought to be eradicated in the 1930s, citrus canker returned in 1995. Two hurricanes spread the disease statewide, causing the USDA to abandon its second eradication attempt in 2006.
At nearly the same time, citrus greening disease was confirmed in Florida. The insect-spread disease is nearly impossible to contain and remains incurable, despite tens of millions of dollars invested in research and treatment.
Disease and severe weather have pushed Florida into a distant second behind California in US domestic organge production. With the USDA’s revision, Florida produced nearly 18 million boxes in the most recent growing season, compared to California’s 47.5 million boxes*.
Florachem Supports Florida’s Orange Growers
As a global leader in specialty citrus ingredients, Florachem is deeply invested in the long-term success of Florida’s orange crops. We actively monitor harvest tallies, weather-related hazards, and the quality of oranges to ensure the best input materials for our products. It’s a commitment we make on behalf of orange producers in Florida and our customers worldwide. See what an obsessive attention to quality can do for your organization; contact our team today.
* Florida orange boxes weigh 90 pounds. California measures boxes at 80 pounds.
Chris Hunt’s sixteen-year career in the flavor and fragrance industry has offered plenty of learning opportunities and lasting connections. We are thrilled that Chris’ continued commitment to growth and creativity has brought him halfway around the globe to Florachem.
Starting this month, Chris Hunt joins Florachem as our Business Development Director. He will play a vital role in expanding relationships with existing customers and introducing our products and services to new partners. Leading our new European sales office, Hunt will serve as an invaluable resource and partner for thriving businesses across the Eurozone. We’re excited to see his experience add real value to our organization from Day One.
At Home in the Citrus Flavors & Fragrance Ingredients Business
Chris’s first role saw him working as a chemist in his hometown of Bury St. Edmunds in the UK, focusing primarily on the analysis of essential oils. Company management convinced him to transition into a sales role after he led a presentation (in Florida, by coincidence). This move reshaped the next decade of his professional career, as he moved into aroma chemicals, brewery ingredient sales and expanded manufacturer relationships in Southeast Asia.
Hunt jumped the Channel to work with a German supplier, where he quickly assumed responsibility for Beer, Wine, and Spirits flavors, plus Citrus and Fruity flavors. After five years on the continent, it was home to the UK to assume a management role in charge of flavor and seasoning for a small UK company.
Before long, a previous connection recommended Chris check out Florachem; it was an immediate fit, and we couldn’t be happier to have him on board. Chris is the ideal leader to bring our growing citrus ingredients portfolio to flavor and fragrance manufacturers in Europe and Asia.
Organizations Grow with the Right People
Chris’s deep experience comes at an important time for Florachem. Early last year, Florachem celebrated the opening of a new citrus ingredients manufacturing site with state-of-the-art distillation capabilities. Chris will lead Florachem’s first European sales office and work to expand our presence in Asia. Adding industry leaders like Chris Hunt accelerates our team’s creativity, professionalism, and capabilities. We are invested in welcoming established leaders and creative thinkers to serve our customers. Florachem is committed to your success; contact us today to learn more.
The Florachem team is thrilled to confirm Chuck Kropp as our new chief financial officer. Chuck’s unique industry-specific experience has already made him an incredibly valuable part of our growing organization, and his arrival couldn’t have come at a better time. We’re excited to add his talents to our expanding operations and capabilities for years to come.
The Right Experience for the Job
Chuck joins Florachem with over 25 years of manufacturing finance experience in both the public and private sectors, always with a customer-focused approach. Recently, Chuck helped a specialty chemical company grow and ultimately go public on the NYSE, which is certainly no small feat. Before specialty ingredients, Chuck worked in smart-grid utility manufacturing, thermal components, and the automotive industry. That experience will be critical to serving our diverse customer base.
Making Moves – to Sunny Florida
After spending much of his professional life in the St. Louis area, Chuck is making the move to Jacksonville, home to the Florachem headquarters. We’re thrilled to have him as a resource for our leadership and management teams.
Chuck is an avid runner in his spare time and enjoys finding outstanding local cuisine.
“I’m very excited to join Florachem. The team here is very energetic and are industry experts for the products we provide our customers.”
– Chuck Kropp, Florachem CFO
Growth Starts at the Top
Florachem’s long-term success starts with bringing in smart, motivated leaders. Our ongoing commitment to finding great people augments our investments in new facilities and strategic partnerships. See what Florachem is all about; contact us today, and be sure to welcome Chuck to the Florachem team!
Citrus flavors have always been a consumer favorite in packaged food and beverages. Over the past year, however, citrus-flavored sports drinks have exploded in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, surprising manufacturers and creating a race to meet skyrocketing demand.
The sports drink market in APAC is growing faster than the broader food and beverage category, with a forecast compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% through 2029.
The appeal of citrus drinks in the APAC market mirrors the value proposition attracting consumers in other markets: great flavor and health benefits.
What’s Driving the Citrus Flavor Trend?
The explosion in demand overseas represents an amplified version of similar trends worldwide and established North American and European markets.
A substantial component of that growth is the expansion of sports drink varieties. Once dominated by a few key players like Gatorade, sports drinks are now catering to a broader audience with new, natural flavors and specific health features.
For North American manufacturers, understanding beverage trends overseas cements sales numbers in more established markets.
Natural flavors like citrus fruits appeal to health-and wellness-focused consumers. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a renewed interest in functional ingredients promising immunity support and antioxidants. Additionally, there’s a continued shift toward natural, sustainable ingredients that show no sign of slowing down.
Citrus-flavored sports drinks provide the “clean label” appeal many consumers are looking for while delivering critical nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin B6, and riboflavin.
Fresh Flavors for Changing Tastes
One of the appealing characteristics of citrus is variety. Manufacturers rely on diverse citrus fruits to create fresh, complex, and delightful flavors that adapt well across applications. Whether consumers are looking for sustained energy, vitamins and minerals, a carbonated citrus beverage, or a low-calorie alternative to other products, citrus-flavored drinks can deliver.
Sports drinks were historically a one-note offering centered on artificial flavors. While those products remain popular, market observers note a robust growth trend in multi-note offerings that blend one or more citrus fruits with other flavor pairings. It’s no surprise to find a citrus drink list with several blends, including new players like blood orange flavor, lemon, lime, passion fruit, dragon fruit, and more.
As APAC Surges, the North American Citrus Flavors Market Remains Strong
The well-established North American citrus flavors market, including sports drinks and other beverage categories, remains sound, with a forecasted 3.84% CAGR through 2027.
For many beverage manufacturers, emerging segments like hard seltzers, ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, and non-alcoholic beer and liquor beverages are top growth opportunities – and citrus flavors can play an important role in all of them.
Surveys show that American consumers are looking to citrus for punchy, tangy flavors. Manufacturers achieve excellent results by combining familiar staples (orange and lemon) with innovative newcomers like pink grapefruit and key lime headlining some of the newest domestic product debuts.
Develop Winning Citrus-Flavored Drinks with Florachem
There’s a domestic and international appreciation for that fresh, exciting citrus taste in consumer products.
No matter what market you’re targeting with your flavors, Florachem is committed to supplying you with the quality citrus ingredients you need to set your brand apart.
With world-class facilities and technical expertise, we’re ready to create and supply you with exactly the citrus ingredients you need to put the best possible product in the hands of your customers – no matter where they are. Let’s start the conversation!
Limonene is a naturally occurring compound sourced from orange peels and the peels of other citrus fruits. In today’s consumer-focused market, Limonene and its derivatives offer manufacturers the option to use a natural, biodegradable compound with nearly endless applications.
Florachem is committed to keeping essential businesses operating. Our operations team will continue to manufacture and ship products during this critical time period.
Florachem produces products consumed by the Chemical Sector for cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing.
Florachem produces products consumed by the Food and Beverage Sector. We are focused on keeping everyone safe and continuously monitoring governmental orders and
CDC guidelines. Thank you for being a valued partner.
Jacksonville, FL, September 27, 2018 – Florachem recently moved into its new global headquarters near the Port of Jacksonville. The new facility expands manufacturing, administrative, and research & development capabilities.
“Our new facility maximizes our core expertise in pine, citrus, and rosin resins while providing a platform for future growth,” says Jon Leonard, Florachem President and CEO. “Jacksonville is the Southeast’s premier intermodal port – a great location for business and family – our team is growing!”
Jacksonville, FL, May 1, 2018 – Florachem Corporation announced today that Jon Leonard has been appointed to the position of President and CEO. Leonard succeeds Steve McAlister, the company’s Founder and current CEO. McAlister will continue as a member of the Board of Directors and consult on the company’s strategic growth plans. The changes are effective May 1, 2018.
“We are very excited to have Jon join our team. He has an extensive background in citrus and pine derivatives, and strengthens our commitment to these markets. Jon will take over managing the daily operations of the company including the transition to our new headquarters and manufacturing plant near the Port of Jacksonville. We believe Jon and our new facility will have a tremendous impact on Florachem’s ability to better service our global customers going forward,” said McAlister.Continue reading →
In January 2018, Florachem announced that we were moving our operations to a newly-constructed facility near the Port of Jacksonville. The new facility will be Florachem’s global headquarters andcombines the current Jacksonville offices and Mission, TX manufacturing plant. This investment enables Florachem to increase production capacities, augment capabilities, and streamline logistics to better serve our global customers. Continue reading →