Finance & economics | The big squeeze

Why orange juice has never been more expensive

Pity those who rely on the breakfast staple

Tangerine trees at a citrus producing farm in Piedade dos Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Photograph: Getty Images

Mimosas have a simple recipe: one part champagne, one part orange juice. Soon, though, the tipple may be even less affordable—and not because sparkling wine is ever more expensive. Concentrate orange-juice futures in New York, which soft-drink producers use to hedge against price swings, have quadrupled since late 2021. They hit an intraday high of $5.80 a pound on September 9th, their fifth record in a week.

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This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “Big squeeze”

From the September 14th 2024 edition

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