Supermarkets across New Zealand are facing significant shortages of orange juice, leaving many shelves empty.
The orange juice supply constraints stemmed from the damage brought by Cyclone Gabrielle on the local orange yields on New Zealand’s East Coast, alongside significant production declines from Brazil, the world’s largest orange producer.
Brazil has faced significant drought conditions and citrus greening disease, which has drastically reduced its orange production. The country’s orange harvest is expected to fall by more than 24% for this season compared with last year.
In July, Citrus New Zealand had indicated that local supplies would not be significantly impacted by the Brazilian shortage. However, as August progressed, supermarket chillers across the country remained empty as local producers struggled to keep up with demand.
Better Drinks Company, known for its Charlie’s brand orange juice, reported that the shortage of oranges has affected its supply, leading to enquiries from concerned consumers. The company ran out of stock last month but anticipates that orange juice will soon return to store shelves.
Hastings-based Homegrown Juice, which specialises in raw, cold-pasteurised juices, is also facing similar challenges due to the shortage.
Woolworths has also felt the pinch, with some suppliers experiencing procurement issues for juices from Australia. The supermarket chain has introduced a new own-brand line to address the supply gap.
The shortage highlights broader issues within the industry, particularly the declining number of orange orchards. Organic produce vendor and juice maker Bruce Coventry of Living Juices noted that many growers are abandoning the business due to financial pressures. For the past decade, prices for oranges have stagnated at around $1 a kilo, only recently increasing to $2 per kilogramme.
As the shortage continues, consumers may need to adapt to limited options and potential increase in prices while the industry grapples with these ongoing challenges.
