Prices of oranges to the industry dropped significantly in late February, due to the low quality of fruits and to international decreases of orange juice quotations. From February 24-27, for instance, the price average was at BRL 74.29 per 40.8-kilo box, downing 6.55 % compared to that in the week before and 16 % in February.
Players surveyed by Cepea say that the orange quality has reduced since the beginning of the year, with lower brix-acid ratio compared to what is desirable for processing activities, and this has been affecting the quality of the orange juice.
This scenario of low quality, in turn, is related to the fact that the 2024/25 had registered several blossoming cycles, resulting in the harvest of distinct stages of fruits (ripe and unripe), which affects the standardisation of oranges sent to processing activities.
Impacts on export
The lower orange supply and the limited quality of the fruits have been limiting orange juice shipments. According to data from Comex Stat, exports of not-from-concentrate (NFC) OJ (NCM 20091200) have presented a lower performance compared to that verified in the season before. In the partial of the 2024/25 crop (from July/24 to January/25), the volume of juice shipped by Brazil totaled 1.09 million tons, 3.4 % smaller than in the same period last season.
Tahiti lime shipments
Brazilian exports of tahiti lime continue moving at a good pace, after reaching a record volume in 2024. In January, Brazil shipped 17.15 thousand tons of tahiti lime, a record for the month and 18.1 % up compared to January/24 – data from Secex. Revenue totaled USD 14.826 million, for an increase of 13.4 % in the same comparison.
Just Made, a leading producer of cold-pressed juices, shots, and smoothie bowls, announced the installation of a Hiperbaric 300 high-pressure processing (HPP) system at its new Houston (USA) production facility. The company hosted an inauguration event on November 9th to celebrate the new facility, HPP equipment, and expanded capabilities.
“We have followed Just Made’s inspiring journey from inception to becoming a leader in authentic, cold-pressed beverages. Their commitment to quality and innovation perfectly aligns with our mission, and we are honored to be part of their growth story,” said Rob Peregrina, Executive Director at Hiperbaric.
Just Made was founded in 2016 with a mission to bring the vibrant flavors and nutritional benefits of tropical fruits to consumers across the United States. The company currently distributes its cold-pressed juices and other products in over 3,000 retail locations across more than 25 states.
Based in Houston, TX, the new 22,000-square-foot facility houses the Hiperbaric 300 system, two bottling lines, coolers, freezers, and other food processing equipment. The Hiperbaric 300 unit features a 300 mm (11.8 inches) diameter pressure vessel and can process up to 1,410 kg/h (3,100 lbs./h) of product. The new HPP system will help deliver significant cost savings compared to relying on third-party HPP services. The company projects a payback period of 2 to 3 years on the new equipment.
“We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Hiperbaric as they develop new innovations that will benefit the food processing industry,” said Norka Nimocks, CEO of Just Made. “Their commitment to service and responsiveness is a key factor in our decision to partner with them.”
About Just Made
Just Made was founded in 2016 with the goal of bringing the vibrant flavours and nutritional benefits of tropical fruits to consumers across the United States. The company’s portfolio of cold-pressed juices, shots and smoothie bowls are available in over 3,000 retail locations across more than 25 states. As a certified B-Corporation, they believe in using business as a force for good. For every bottle sold, they donate 5¢ to support local schools, teachers and students in rural Latin America and the Caribbean. Their team works directly with school administrators and teachers to determine the best uses for these funds.
