Here’s a way to help Florida citrus growers make a comeback | Column

Since surging in popularity after World War II, orange juice has been a common fixture in American households. Sadly, rising prices and several other adverse factors make it more difficult for families to afford the iconic breakfast staple.

In 2022, back-to-back storms pummeled Florida citrus groves. More than 90% of Florida citrus production was impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimated losses between $416 million and $675 million. At the same time, widespread citrus greening, an incurable bacterial infection originating from the Asian citrus psyllid, has also decimated orange crops in recent years.

Florida’s citrus growers and the broader juice processing industry have invested significant time and resources to rebuild from the damages caused by hurricanes and greening. Groves that were under water or toppled have been replanted, and in a few years, they will yield fruit. Researchers have developed treatments and therapies such as plant growth regulators, antimicrobials and other compounds commonly used in production agriculture that are already improving the health of trees and reducing fruit drop. Significant advancement has been made developing disease-tolerant varieties of citrus to combat greening. All stakeholders are embracing innovation and modernizing the centuries-old industry to cut inefficiency and increase sustainability.

America’s citrus industry is on the verge of a comeback. Yet, as often is the case, federal regulators stand in the way.

The challenges impacting the citrus industry have resulted in a lower Brix level, the metric that measures natural sugars in juice. Currently, the standard of identity for pasteurized orange juice, which is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, requires pasteurized orange juice to meet a Brix level of 10.5. It is necessary to reduce that requirement by just one-half point, to 10, to better reflect the natural makeup of today’s orange crop. This reduction in Brix level would not make a discernible difference in taste or nutritional value. It would, however, give the industry greater flexibility to meet consumer demand and compete, allowing more American product to come to market and reducing costs for consumers.

Adjustments to standards are not unusual. Earlier this year, the FDA revoked its old standard for cherry pie in response to a citizen petition. Outdated FDA regulations like these make agricultural production costly and cumbersome, often passing higher prices along to consumers in the grocery store. Standards of identity are necessary to ensure the quality of products, but refusing critical updates can harm the market and limit consumer choice.

In 2022, the Florida Citrus Processors Association and Florida Citrus Mutual filed a citizen petition requesting the FDA revise its Brix requirements for pasteurized orange juice. The FDA is sitting on a straightforward solution to a complex challenge. The future of Florida’s citrus industry depends on it.

If the FDA fails to act in favor of Americans’ best interest, Congress must intervene. First, we must enact H.R. 1750, the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act, my bill requiring the FDA to revise the Brix level. If the FDA will not respond to a citizen petition and industry experts, Congress should mandate it.

More generally, Congress must ensure that the upcoming farm bill includes provisions to replant trees, promote citrus greening research and treatments, and make safety nets for specialty crops such as citrus more workable and navigable. And finally, I urge my colleagues to join me in finding ways to cut the red tape that keeps agricultural operators from growing and securing our domestic food supply.

Growing up in Polk County, the heart of Florida’s citrus industry, I know our state’s growers are resilient and take pride in helping nourish America’s families. They deserve a regulatory environment that helps them succeed as they recover from disease and natural disaster. It’s time for decisive action, and reducing the minimum Brix level in the FDA standard is the best place to start.

C. Scott Franklin is a retired naval aviator and former business owner representing Florida’s 18th Congressional District, which includes the eight mostly rural counties in Florida’s heartland and accounts for 70% of the state’s citrus production. A member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Franklin serves on the agriculture subcommittee. He also serves on the House Veterans’ Affairs and the House Science, Space and Technology committees.