Citrotec^® attended Juice Conference 2026, held from April 13 to 15 in Orlando, Florida, United States. The event was organized by the International Fruit and Vegetable Juice Association and the Juice Products Association, bringing together key representatives from the global orange juice industry.

The conference welcomed approximately 150 professionals from different countries, including business leaders, executives, and technical experts, creating a strategic environment for knowledge exchange, networking, and discussions about the future of the sector.

Citrotec^® participated as one of the event sponsors, reinforcing its presence in the international market and its commitment to the development of the juice industry. “Participating in an event like this is essential to strengthen our relationship with the global market, follow industry trends, and identify new business opportunities,” says Citrotec^® CEO, Marcelo Bellarde.

Presentations

One of the main topics discussed during the event was the transformation in consumer behavior. The presentations provided insights into the growing demand for natural, functional, and low-sugar products, as well as market outlooks for North America and Europe.

The agenda also dedicated significant attention to sustainability, covering everything from more responsible agricultural practices at the fruit source to reducing carbon footprint in processing and logistics.

With the conference hosted in Florida—a historic American citrus hub—the global citrus industry received special attention in the discussions. Topics included the impacts of climate change on production, crop developments in Brazil and the United States, and global supply forecasts for concentrated orange juice.

The event also featured discussions on new processing, preservation, and packaging technologies, with special attention to solutions that preserve the nutritional and sensory attributes of juices.

Citrotec^® Solutions for the Citrus Industry

Citrotec^® develops equipment for the industrial processing of citrus fruits, focusing on technical performance, product quality, and responsible use of resources. For the citrus sector, the company offers a line of evaporators and concentration systems designed to meet different stages of the production chain.

The ENET^® TASTE evaporators operate under the principle of descending turbulent mist, with short temperature exposure and a thermally accelerated process. This mechanism minimizes thermal impact on the product, preserving the sensory attributes and quality of the concentrated juice. The system uses high-performance evaporative condensers developed with sanitation in mind—a key requirement for the food and beverage industry.

Focused on adding value to citrus processing by-products, ENET^® WASTE is an evaporator specialized in concentrating liquor or wash water from citrus peels for pectin base production. The equipment also enables the recovery of D-Limonene—a high-value compound found in citrus peels—and allows condensate recirculation in the production process, resulting in low water consumption. This solution represents a concrete advancement in sustainability and circular economy within the industrial plant.

The ENET^® D'OILER consists of distillation columns installed in ENET^® evaporators, designed to exhaust, concentrate, and recover D-Limonene from reacted and pressed citrus peel liquor. The process ensures the extraction of a high-quality compound, especially regarding aldehyde content—a key parameter for high-value applications in the flavors and fragrances industry. In addition to recovering D-Limonene, the system concentrates the liquor to approximately 45 Brix.