Citrus Mocktails Meet Lighting in Tampa Bay

Talk to any citrus grower and you will hear a story full of grit, heart, and a little bit of hope. That tone carries through this season in an update from Steve Johnson, chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission and owner and general manager of Johnson Harvesting, Inc., based in Wauchula, Florida. After more than 20 years of citrus greening cutting into orange production, growers and researchers have learned how to push through obstacles while still finding reasons to smile about what lies ahead.

Even with the hard work continuing in the groves, the industry is finding creative ways to keep citrus in the spotlight across the Southeast.

That creativity is on full display through a partnership between Florida Orange Juice and the Tampa Bay Lightning, which began this fall and is now featured at every home game. The promotion runs through March and reaches millions of fans in the arena and watching from home, according to Johnson. Fans can sip on two featured mocktails, the Florida Citrus Punch and the Florida Orange Mojito, offered in limited runs during the season. Cannot make it to a game but still want to bring a little orange juice love into your own festivities? A little juice, a little syrup, and a little shake shake shake is all it takes. You can find the drink recipes at https://www.floridacitrus.org/grower/fdoc-news-item/chairman-johnson-raising-a-glass-in-gratitude-for-florida-citrus/