Rationale for reconsidering current regulations restricting use of hybrids in orange juice

Authors: Stover, Eddie; GMITTER, F - University Of Florida; GROSSER, J - University Of Florida; BALDWIN, E - Former ARS Employee; WU, G - US Department Of Energy; Bai, Jinhe; WANG, Y - University Of Florida; CHAIRES, P - New Varieties Development And Management Corporation; MOTAMAYOR, J - Coca-Cola Company

Submitted to: Horticulture Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2020
Publication Date: 3/7/2020
Citation: Stover, E., Gmitter, F.G., Grosser, J., Baldwin, E., Wu, G.A., Bai, J., Wang, Y., Chaires, P., Motamayor, J.C. 2020. Rationale for reconsidering current regulations restricting use of hybrids in orange juice. Horticulture Research. 7:38. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-020-0277-5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-020-0277-5

Interpretive Summary: By law, orange juice in the United States must be at least 90% derived from sweet orange juice with a maximum of 10% juice from other hybrids. At the time this law was written, sweet orange was thought to be a true species, we now know that sweet orange is just one of many hybrids derived from the citrus species pummelo and mandarin, and is a single hybrid that arose many hundreds of years ago. Reliance on this single chance hybrid is unprecedented in any commodity and, due to the very narrow genetic base, exposes Florida to devastating epidemics, such as the huanglongbing (HLB) epidemic currently devastating Florida citrus. Many other hybrids have been identified with greater tolerance to HLB than sweet orange, that are either solely or largely derived from the same two parental species as sweet orange. Some of these hybrids produce juice closely resembling sweet orange juice, when used alone, when blended together, or used in blends with sweet orange. Therefore, the following approaches are being considered to enhance sustainability of the Florida citrus industry: a. Developing a procedure and criteria for accepting new hybrids as “orange juice” producers. b. Adjusting the standards of identity to permit a greater proportion of juice from other hybrids, with the continued goal of generating a consistent product that will meet quality expectations for “orange juice”. c. Consider expanding production of other high-quality citrus juices that do not necessarily duplicate orange juice (OJ) as standalone (like tangerine juice already on the market), or as citrus juice blend products.

Technical Abstract: By law, orange juice in the United States must be at least 90% derived from sweet orange juice with a maximum of 10% juice from other mandarin hybrids. At the time this law was written, sweet orange was thought to be a true species. We now know that sweet orange is just one of many hybrids derived from introgression of the genomes of Citrus reticulata and Citrus maxima, and is a single hybrid that arose many hundreds of years ago. Reliance on this single chance hybrid is unprecedented in any commodity and, due to the very narrow genetic base, exposes Florida to devastating epidemics, such as the huanglongbing (HLB) epidemic currently devastating Florida citrus. Many other hybrids have been identified with greater tolerance to HLB than sweet orange, that are either solely or largely derived from the same two parental species as sweet orange. Some of these hybrids produce juice closely resembling sweet orange juice, when used alone, when blended together, or used in blends with sweet orange. Therefore, the following approaches are being considered to enhance sustainability of the Florida citrus industry: a. Developing a procedure and criteria for accepting new hybrids as “orange juice” producers. b. Adjusting the standards of identity to permit a greater proportion of juice from other hybrids, with the continued goal of generating a consistent product that will meet quality expectations for “orange juice”. c. Consider expanding production of other high-quality citrus juices that do not necessarily duplicate orange juice (OJ) as standalone (like tangerine juice already on the market), or as citrus juice blend products.