In the Jan. 12 citrus forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS), Florida’s citrus crop estimates were unchanged from December, but other citrus-producing states saw changes.
CALIFORNIA UPS AND DOWNS
The California forecast for oranges increased for both Valencias and non-Valencias. The Valencia crop rose from 7.5 million boxes to 7.8 million boxes. Non-Valencias increased 1 million boxes to 38 million boxes. California’s all-orange forecast of 45.8 million boxes is more than double that of Florida’s 20.5 million boxes.
California’s grapefruit forecast is also up, increasing from 3.5 million boxes to 3.8 million boxes.
Lemon production in California saw a loss, decreasing from 23 million boxes to 20 million boxes.
The estimate for California’s tangerine and mandarin crops also declined, from 23 million boxes in December to 22 million boxes this month.
TEXAS SEES GAINS
Production is up in Texas for both oranges and grapefruit.
Oranges increased substantially from 800,000 boxes to 950,000 boxes. The increase was exclusively in the non-Valencia crop.
The forecast for Texas grapefruit ticked upward from 2.2 million boxes in December to 2.35 million boxes in January.
ARIZONA LEMON LOSS
Lemon production in Arizona fell from 1.5 million boxes to 900,000 boxes.
FLORIDA HOLDS STEADY
Florida’s all-orange forecast remains at 20.5 million boxes. This includes 7.5 million boxes of non-Valencias and 13 million boxes of Valencias.
Florida’s all-grapefruit forecast is unchanged at 2.4 million boxes (2.1 million red and 300,000 white).
The Florida tangerine and mandarin forecast stands at 550,000 boxes.
See the full USDA citrus crop forecast report here.
The next update to the citrus forecast will be on Feb. 8 at approximately 12:00 p.m. on the Citrus Industry website.
Source: USDA NASS