Florida’s Natural Class Action Says Orange Juice Isn’t Actually from Florida

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Florida’s Natural sold juice with imported oranges while marketing it as sourced entirely from Florida.

Consumers Affected: New York buyers of Florida’s Natural orange juice labeled or marketed as made from Florida-grown fruit.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York

Florida’s Natural Growers’ orange juice isn’t as “Florida” as the packaging suggests, a new lawsuit alleges. According to the complaint, the company has been falsely advertising its juice as made exclusively from Florida oranges, while in reality blending fruit from Mexico and Brazil.

The lawsuit argues that the prominent U.S. flag imagery and “Owned by Florida Farmers” branding create the impression of a product sourced entirely within the state, allowing the company to charge a premium price. Consumers, the lawsuit claims, are paying more for what they believe is a uniquely Florida product, only to be misled.

Plaintiff Says Florida’s Natural Used Imported Oranges While Marketing “Florida” Juice

The lawsuit was filed by Patricia Donadio of Farmington, New York, who bought a carton of Florida’s Natural 100% Premium Orange Juice this summer for $5.99. She says she relied on the packaging, which emphasized Florida roots, and believed she was paying for a juice made solely from Florida-grown oranges. 

The lawsuit argues she paid about 50% more than she would have if the label had accurately reflected the mix of Mexican and Brazilian oranges inside. Donadio claims she and other consumers would not have purchased, or would have paid less for, the product if they had known the truth. Instead, they paid a “Florida premium” for what they believed to be a state-exclusive product.

 Lawsuit Claims Labels and Flag Imagery Misled Shoppers About Sourcing

The complaint emphasizes how strongly Florida’s Natural leans on patriotic and local imagery. The label’s combination of the U.S. flag and Florida farmer ownership, plaintiffs say, is an implied “Made in the USA” claim under federal trade rules. 

Such claims are considered misleading unless nearly all ingredients are domestically sourced, which isn’t the case here, the lawsuit alleges.

Historically, the company did use only Florida-grown fruit. But plant diseases like citrus greening and canker devastated groves, pushing Florida’s Natural to import oranges beginning in 2022. Despite the shift, the branding has stayed the same, with no clear disclosure on the front label that foreign juice is now part of the blend, the lawsuit states.

Other Brands Face Similar Lawsuits Over Misleading “Made in USA” Claims

Florida’s Natural isn’t the only brand in the hot seat over origin claims. John Paul Mitchell Systems is fighting a lawsuit over its “Made in the USA” hair products, which allegedly contain foreign ingredients. 

French’s mustard is under similar fire for sourcing key components abroad despite U.S.-focused marketing. Even household names like Lowe’s and Reynolds have faced challenges over labeling, while Handel’s Ice Cream was recently accused of dressing up its allegedly synthetic-laden treats with a “homemade” image.

In her lawsuit, Donadio is suing on behalf of all New York consumers who purchased the juice under these allegedly false representations. She’s seeking damages, interest, and legal costs, claiming the company’s marketing amounts to fraud and violations of state consumer protection law. 

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Donadio v. Florida Natural Growers, Inc.
• Case Number: 6:25-cv-06473-MAV
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

•  Stacey Ann Van Malden (Goldberger & Dubin, PC)
• Yeremey O. Krivoshey and Brittany S. Scott (Smith Krivoshey, PC)

Have you bought Florida’s Natural orange juice recently? Did you assume it was made only with Florida oranges? Tell us what you think below.