The juice is reduced: Why OJ is getting more expensive

Orange juice is increasingly putting the squeeze on Americans’ wallets. Prices in the US have risen by 30% since the start of this year, with that growth coming on the heels of a 62% price jump in 2023, according to data from Trading Economics.

And the trend shows no signs of slowing down. Orange juice prices are projected to further increase in the near future, as the industry continues dealing with two major threats:

• Orange farms in Brazil, the world’s top producing region, are set to have their worst harvests in 30+ years due to severe droughts, hurricanes, and other extreme weather.
• In Florida, the world’s second largest orange producer, orchards are experiencing an outbreak of citrus greening – an incurable plant disease regulators say has reduced Florida citrus production by 75% over the past two decades.

Along with causing prices to skyrocket, these factors have also forced some orange juice producers to explore replacing oranges with other fruits like mandarins, or changing their blends to reduce orange use.

🌍 Other dietary staples are also under the weather. Global coffee prices have surged in recent months due to long-term droughts in Brazil and Vietnam, the world’s top producers. The cost of olive oil recently hit a record high following a series of droughts and wildfires in the Mediterranean region. And already elevated chocolate prices are projected to spike in the near future due to extreme weather and plant disease affecting cocoa harvests.