California citrus acreage (bearing and nonbearing) planted in grapefruit, lemons, limes, mandarins and pummelos increased in 2022 when compared to 2020. However, the state’s orange acreage declined. That information was in the 2022 California Citrus Acreage Report by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Although orange acreage declined, oranges account for more than half of California’s total citrus acreage. Navel oranges were planted on 113,586 acres in 2022, down from 115,485 acres in 2020. Valencia oranges were planted on 26,225 acres in 2022, down from 27,336 acres in 2020.
Mandarins and mandarin hybrids were planted on 67,148 acres in 2022, up from 63,809 acres in 2020.
Lemons were planted on 51,592 acres in 2022, up from 48,657 acres in 2020.
Grapefruit accounted for 8,595 acres in 2022, up from 8,198 acres in 2020.
Pummelos and hybrids were planted on 1,230 acres in 2022, up from 1,139 acres in 2020.
Limes accounted for 561 acres in 2022, up from 517 acres in 2020.
Total reported citrus acreage (including bearing and nonbearing trees) in 2022 was 268,937 acres, up from 265,141 acres in 2020. The vast majority of acreage reported for all varieties was bearing fruit.
Tulare County had the most acreage in navel oranges (64,679), Valencia oranges (11,606), mandarins and mandarin hybrids (26,041) and pummelos and hybrids (933). Riverside County had the most grapefruit acreage (3,621), Ventura County led in lemon acreage (18,124), and San Diego County led in lime acreage (247).
The major source of the acreage data was a questionnaire mailed in January 2022 to all citrus growers in NASS’ database. The questionnaire included previously reported acreage information; producers were asked to update the information. New growers were mailed a blank questionnaire. Data collection ended in July 2022.
The report noted that a voluntary survey of 5,400 citrus growers is unlikely to ever attain 100% completeness. It also pointed out that it is difficult for NASS to detect growers who are planting citrus for the first time.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service
Share this Post
Sponsored Content