WASHINGTON,
D.C.— Today, Senator
Ashley Moody introduced the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act, a
bill supporting Florida citrus growers by updating regulations and cutting
bureaucratic red tape. Senator Moody is pleased to have Senator Rick Scott join
the bill and for Congressman Scott Franklin to lead efforts in the House of
Representatives.
Senator
Ashley Moody said, “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. 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 said, “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.”
Congressman
Scott Franklin said,
“Outdated standards and needless red tape are standing in the way of Florida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. Helping Florida’s
flagship crop is a bipartisan issue, and I’m grateful to my Florida colleagues
for joining me to update this harmful regulation.”
Jeb Smith,
President of Florida Farm Bureau,
said, “Florida Farm Bureau commends Senator Ashley Moody and Senator Rick Scott
for championing the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act. This
critical legislation will help ensure that Florida’s iconic citrus industry
remains competitive and sustainable in the face of ongoing challenges. By
modernizing outdated standards, Senator Moody and Senator Scott are standing up
for Florida’s farmers and protecting the livelihoods of countless families who
depend on citrus production. We are grateful for their leadership and
unwavering commitment to agriculture.”
Matt Joyner,
Executive Vice President and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, said, “Florida citrus growers are
grateful to Senator Ashley Moody for introducing the Defending Domestic Orange
Juice Production Act in the U.S. Senate this week. Senator Moody’s leadership
in pushing this bill forward demonstrates her commitment to securing a more
sustainable future for Florida’s citrus industry and providing much-needed
relief to our growers. From battling citrus greening to facing the devastating
impacts of back-to-back hurricanes, our industry has faced immense challenges.
By aligning the brix standard with the natural sugars found in today’s citrus
crop, Florida’s citrus industry can support consumer demand, keep Florida
orange juice competitive in the market, strengthen the domestic supply and
reduce reliance on foreign imports.”
The legislation
would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lower the required
level of sugar/solids content (brix standard) in not-from-concentrate
pasteurized orange juice from 10.5 percent weight of orange juice soluble
solids to 10 percent; a change that would not make a discernable difference in
taste nor nutritional value. The change would however make a difference for
citrus growers who have dealt with major hardships such as hurricanes in the
past few years.
# # #