Congresswoman Kat Cammack Welcomes FDA Rule Modernizing Orange Juice Standard for Florida Growers

Image July 17, 2026 Press Release Updated standard will allow processors to use more Florida-grown oranges and reduce reliance on imported juice. LAKELAND, Fla. — Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03) today welcomed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's final rule modernizing the federal Standard of Identity for pasteurized orange juice during an announcement with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas, Senator Ashley Moody, and Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15). The updated standard lowers the minimum Brix level from 10.5 to 10 degrees, allowing processors to produce 100 percent orange juice using more of the fruit Florida actually grows, in response to a 2022 petition from Florida Citrus Mutual and the Florida Citrus Processors Association. Citrus greening and repeated hurricanes have lowered the natural sugar content of Florida oranges, and the previous standard forced processors to blend in imported juice to meet a threshold today's Florida crop could not reliably reach. FDA estimates the rule will save manufacturers more than $50 million annually. “For years, Congressman Scott Franklin and I have been working alongside Florida's citrus growers because they kept telling us the same thing: Washington's rules no longer matched the reality in Florida's groves. Citrus greening, hurricanes, and freezes changed the fruit, but the federal standard never changed with it. We introduced legislation, worked directly with FDA, and kept pushing until Washington finally listened,” said Congresswoman Kat Cammack. “I'm grateful to Secretary Kennedy and Acting Commissioner Diamantas for delivering a commonsense, science-based solution. Now, more Florida oranges can go into Florida orange juice, helping strengthen one of our state's signature industries and ensuring this proud Florida tradition can continue for generations to come.” “President Trump is ending an outdated regulation that forced American orange juice producers to rely on foreign imports and an obsolete sugar standard,” said HHS Secretary Kennedy. “We are cutting red tape, saving the industry more than $50 million each year, strengthening American supply chains, and creating a level playing field for U.S. citrus growers — all while maintaining the safety, quality, and taste Americans expect. That is America First policy, guided by gold-standard science.” “Florida citrus has long set the standard for quality around the world, and our growers deserve every opportunity to compete and succeed,” said Rep. Laurel Lee. “Today’s announcement demonstrates what can happen when growers, industry leaders, and elected officials work together to solve real problems. I’m proud to partner with Representative Cammack in advancing this commonsense update to the federal Brix standard, which preserves the quality consumers expect, and creates new opportunities for Florida-grown citrus to thrive.” Congresswoman Cammack is the only Florida member of the House Agriculture Committee and a cosponsor of the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act (H.R. 933), the House legislation led by Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) that pressed for the change. In the 2026 Farm Bill, she secured the extension of the citrus greening research trust fund through 2031. After the January and February freezes, she led the full Florida delegation letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins that produced a federal disaster declaration for impacted producers. She and Rep. Franklin are also co-leading the $3.5 billion Florida agriculture disaster aid package now before Congress. Florida orange production has fallen roughly 92 percent since 2005 because of citrus greening and repeated hurricanes, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. For growers in Marion County and across North Central Florida, the updated standard means more Florida-grown fruit can stay in the carton, reducing reliance on imported juice and providing greater incentive to keep groves in production. The rule helps preserve one of Florida's signature industries while supporting growers, processors, and jobs throughout the state's citrus supply chain. ### Congresswoman Kat Cammack proudly serves Florida's Third Congressional District, covering 12 counties in North Central Florida. She serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Agriculture.