The March citrus forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) calls for slight increases in Florida’s orange and grapefruit crops compared to the prior season. Florida’s lemon and tangerine/mandarin forecasts were unchanged from February’s forecast.
FLORIDA ORANGES
The Florida all-orange forecast rose 1%, or 100,000 boxes, from the February forecast to 11.6 million boxes. The increase was in the non-Valencia crop, which is virtually completely harvested. The non-Valencia crop is now forecast at 4.6 million boxes. The Valencia crop forecast remains at 7 million boxes.
Current Florida Valencia orange fruit size is below average and is projected to be below average at harvest, requiring 256 pieces to fill a 90-pound box. Current Valencia droppage is above the maximum and projected to be above the maximum at harvest. Harvest of Valencia oranges is still in the early stages.
If the orange forecast is realized, this season’s crop will be 35% less than last season’s final production of 17.96 million boxes.
FLORIDA GRAPEFRUIT
The Florida grapefruit forecast was increased by 100,000 boxes, or 9%, to 1.2 million boxes. The red grapefruit forecast rose by 70,000 boxes to 1.07 million boxes. The white grapefruit forecast rose by 30,000 boxes to 130,000 boxes. A row count survey conducted Feb. 26–27 indicated 93% of grapefruit rows had been harvested.
If the grapefruit forecast is realized, this season’s crop will be 33% lower than last season’s final production of 1.79 million boxes.
CALIFORNIA ORANGES
The only forecast change in other states was to California’s Valencia orange crop, which dropped from 8.4 million boxes in February to 7.5 million boxes in March. That decline reduced California’s total orange crop forecast to 46.5 million boxes.
See the full March forecast report from USDA NASS here.
The next citrus forecast will be released on April 10.
Source: USDA NASS
Share this Post
Sponsored Content