Georgia citrus growers are exploring the potential of entering the juice market, as highlighted by Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association. According to Savelle, "Hamlins and perhaps some early-season Valencias would work here in Georgia." However, questions remain about whether juicing facilities should be established locally or if processing should occur elsewhere.
Savelle noted, "It's a lot less expensive to juice it here and send the juice to Florida or wherever it's going." She emphasized that financial considerations are paramount, with substantial capital required for a juice extraction plant in Georgia.
The interest in the juice market arises partly due to an overabundance of satsuma mandarins in the cold-hardy citrus region, where the market could not absorb the surplus produced in South Georgia and North Florida. This surplus led to significant crop discard, prompting producers like Kim Jones to seek alternative uses for the excess fruit.
While the juice market offers lower prices than the fresh market, it provides an additional outlet for growers. Savelle suggests that this is an opportunity worth considering, stating, "If you sit down and crunch the numbers, juice is very economically feasible for growers here in Georgia." She believes that Georgia can accommodate both fresh and juice markets.
One advantage of growing for juice is that the fruit's appearance is less critical, as it will be processed, allowing growers to focus less on aesthetic quality.
Source: Citrus Industry