Spectrum News: Inflation hits frozen orange juice
UC economics professor says disease is among the factors contributing to rising costs
A number of factors have caused the price of frozen orange juice to spike recently, a University of Cincinnati economics professor told Spectrum News.
Erwin Erhardt
In the past year, the cost of a 12-ounce can of frozen orange juice concentrate has increased 40%.
Among the reasons for the increase are a sugar shortage and rising costs for labor, transportation and packaging.
“The third factor is a disease,” said Erwin Erhardt, PhD, an associate professor - educator in the economics department of UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business. “It’s striking the trees down in Florida, at least it’s called Yellow Dragon disease, and it’s carried by a Soliday, a small insect that feeds off the sap of the oranges and it turns some green and bitter and the trees eventually die once they’re hit by this. So they’re working on trying to control that.”
It's not all bad news for orange juice lovers, though. The supply of Valencia oranges, which are used to make orange juice, is expected to increase by approximately 25% this year, Erhardt said. The increased supply could cause prices to level off or even drop.
Featured image at top: An orange tree. Photo/Tyler Shaw via Unsplash
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
What is the 'cicada' COVID variant?
April 6, 2026
A formerly rare strain of COVID, BA.3.2, now is showing up in Ohio and 24 other states. Experts say so far it hasn't caused illness any more severe than other strains, but it might be somewhat more resistant to vaccines, as 91.7 WVXU News recently reported. Scientists have nicknamed the variant "cicada" due to its former low profile and current resurgence.
2026 Warren Bennis Leadership Experience brings together student, professional leaders
April 6, 2026
The 2026 Warren Bennis Leadership Experience united student and professional leaders and Warren Bennis Leadership Institute champions and alumni on March 26.
UC opens zebrafish research facility to study infertility
April 6, 2026
The University of Cincinnati is launching a state-of-the-art zebrafish research facility that scientists say could help explain how environmental toxins affect fertility, as WKRC-TV/Local 12 and WLWT-TV/Ch. 5 recently reported.