The release of the 2019-20 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) citrus crop forecast projects an increase in orange, grapefruit, tangerine and tangelo production for Florida. California and Texas are expected to decrease production in most categories.
ORANGES
Florida non-Valencia oranges are projected at 32 million boxes after ending the 2018-19 season at 30.4 million boxes. California is projected at 38 million boxes of non-Valencias after finishing up last season with 40.8 million boxes. Texas came in at 2.05 million boxes of non-Valencias with a final number last season of 2.2 million boxes.
Valencia oranges for Florida are projected to be 42 million boxes for this season after last season’s 41.35 million boxes. Expected California Valencia production is unchanged at 9 million boxes. Texas Valencia production for this season is predicted to rise from 290,000 boxes to 650,000 boxes.
GRAPEFRUIT
Florida grapefruit production is projected to be 4.6 million boxes with red at 3.9 million boxes and white at 700,000 boxes. California grapefruit is projected at 4.2 million boxes after closing last season at 3.2 million boxes. Texas is at 5.7 million boxes after ending last season with 6.1 million boxes.
TANGERINES AND TANGELOS
Tangerines and tangelos for Florida ended last season with 990,000 boxes. This season, 1.05 million boxes are expected. The California tangerine and tangelo projection is expected to drop from 26 million boxes to 23 million boxes.
Hear the forecast:
See the details of the forecast:
USDA/National Agricultural Statistics Service Citrus Maturity Test Results and Fruit Size form
The next citrus crop forecast is scheduled to be released at 12:00 noon Eastern Time/9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, November 8, 2019. Tune in and hear the numbers as they are given by USDA.
Coverage of the citrus crop forecast is brought to you by Aerobotics, Farm Credit of Florida, Fruit Shield, Labor Solutions, and TradeMark Nitrogen Corp.