Around the world, people are drinking less orange juice, with consumption down one-fifth in the past decade to roughly 1.9 million tonnes this year. Production, dominated by Brazil and the United States, peaked five years ago and has generally declined since. “Consumption is forecast to exceed production while stocks are expected down 10 percent on lower levels in the United States, continuing more-or-less a five-year trend,” according to the USDA’s semi-annual Citrus: World Markets and Trade report. Citrus greening disease has cut into the U.S. citrus harvest. Brazil produces more than half of the world’s orange juice and the EU is the largest consumer. The United States ranks second in production, consumption and imports. The USDA estimates U.S. orange juice consumption at 600 tonnes, down 11 percent from last year.
Researchers successfully trained dogs to detect citrus canker disease and now are using them to detect citrus greening disease, says California Ag Today. Mary Palm, national coordinator of USDA’s citrus pest programs, says five dogs are being trained and tested daily. The dogs in the program have a 99 success rate in daily tests.