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Decline in Florida Citrus Forecast Figures

Daniel CooperCitrus, Crop Forecast

floridaThe 2018–19 Florida orange forecast released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Nov. 8 is 77 million boxes, down 3 percent from the October forecast. If realized, this forecast will be 71 percent more than last season’s final production.

The orange forecast consists of 32 million boxes of the non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, and Navel varieties) and 45 million boxes of Valencia oranges. Projected fruit size is below the minimum, requiring an estimated 348 non-Valencia oranges or 257 Valencias to fill a 90-pound box.

The Florida grapefruit forecast is lowered from 6.7 to 6.4 million boxes, representing a 4 percent decline from last month. If realized, this forecast will be 65 percent more than last season’s hurricane-affected crop. Red grapefruit is predicted to be 5.3 million boxes, while white grapefruit is forecast at 1.1 million boxes. Fruit size of red and white grapefruit at harvest is projected to be below average, and droppage is projected to be above average.

The forecast for Florida tangerine and tangelos is unchanged at 1.2 million boxes, 60 percent more than last season’s crop of 750,000 boxes.

The citrus forecast numbers are unchanged for California and Texas.

Hear the Florida November citrus crop forecast:

Hear the national November citrus crop forecast:

See more citrus forecast details here: USDA/NASS Citrus Maturity Test Results and Fruit Size form

Hear the next citrus crop forecast on Dec. 11 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

THANK YOU to our Citrus Crop Forecast Sponsors!

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