Brampton, ON – Shipments of U.S. orange juice to Canada fell in June to their lowest level in more than 20 years, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau data. A mix of agricultural setbacks, changing consumer habits, and ongoing trade tensions has left Canadian grocery shelves stocked but at higher prices — and with shifting tastes.
Michael Graydon, CEO of Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada, explained that Florida’s orange crop has been devastated by citrus greening disease, blight, and repeated storm damage, with production dropping by more than one-third compared to last year. Brazil, once a reliable secondary source, is also facing weather and disease-related reductions.
“U.S. orange juice to Canada has slumped … and it’s at multi-year lows,” Graydon told CTV News. “It hasn’t been just one single cause. It’s kind of a collision of tight global supply, changing consumer preferences, and more recently, the tariff overhang in North America.”
Canada’s retaliatory 25 per cent tariff on unfrozen Florida orange juice, imposed as part of ongoing trade disputes, has further pushed prices higher. Graydon noted that while the tariffs have had minimal impact on the U.S. economy, they are contributing to food inflation in Canada.
Consumers are adapting. Many are turning to alternatives such as shelf-stable juice blends that are cheaper than fresh, refrigerated orange juice. “Supply isn’t just constrained. It’s complex and prices are heading further upward, unless the trade environment stabilizes,” Graydon warned.
Eric Wickham, who worked on the Hoser Grocery Tracker project, observed that Canadian shoppers are “voting with their wallets,” choosing Canadian products and alternatives over U.S. imports. He connected the trend to broader consumer discontent, recalling the 2024 Loblaw boycott sparked by rising grocery costs.
Although Statistics Canada reports that the average retail price of two litres of orange juice rose only about 30 cents between June 2024 and June 2025, supply chain pressures remain. Loblaw’s July Food Inflation Report found that one-third of supplier cost increases are tied directly to tariffs on U.S. food imports, packaging, and ingredients.
While fresh vegetables saw price relief with a 3.1 per cent drop in June, overall food inflation still outpaced general inflation at 2.8 per cent. For Canadians, that means the once-ordinary glass of Florida orange juice at the breakfast table is slowly becoming a more expensive — and less common — indulgence.