Changes to U.S. Citrus Forecast

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast

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 DOWNSThe 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 …

Record Lemon Production in Spain

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, International, lemons

European Union (EU) lemon production is forecast at just over 1.6 million metric tons (MT) in 2023–24, up from the 1.5 million MT in 2022–23, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) recently reported. The increase can be entirely attributed to an all-time-record production level in Spain, following the historically low lemon production there in 2022–23. Conversely, …

Morocco Orange and OJ Production

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, International, Orange Juice

Orange and orange juice (OJ) production in Morocco are both projected to be higher in 2023–24 than in the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). FRESH ORANGESOrange production in 2023–24 is expected to increase by 5%, reaching 820,000 metric tons (MT). The increase is due to improved weather conditions during the growing …

Japan’s mandarin

Soft Citrus Forecast Up in South Africa

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, International, Mandarins

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has forecast that South Africa’s tangerine/mandarin production will total 740,000 metric tons in 2023–24, up 4% from the prior season. Young trees coming into production is a primary reason for the increase. PLANTING EXPANSION SLOWSSouth Africa has 27,500 hectares of tangerines/mandarins, also known as soft citrus. The rapid expansion in …

Chilean Lemon Production to Climb

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, International, lemons

Lemon production in Chile is projected to grow 6.7% in 2023–24 compared to the previous season and reach 175,000 metric tons (MT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported. The expected production increase is due to high profits and an increase in planted area. The lemon planted area in Chile is estimated at 1,150 hectares, a …

production and exports

The Egyptian Orange Industry

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, International

Egyptian orange production in 2023–24 is projected to increase 2.7% from the prior season to 3.7 million metric tons (MMT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported. The increase in production is attributed to optimal weather conditions and temperatures during flowering of the trees, which increased fruit set and production. Oranges are the major citrus crop …

Australian Orange Production to Increase

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, International

Australian fresh orange production is forecast at 530,000 metric tons (MT) in 2023–24 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). This is a 5% increase over 2022–23 production of 505,000 MT. Producers expect to benefit from easing input costs and labor constraints in 2023–24. In particular, the costs of fertilizer and crop protection chemicals have reduced …

Costa Rica Orange Production to Decline

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, International, Oranges

Production of oranges in Costa Rica in 2023–24 is expected to decline 15% from the prior year to 250,000 metric tons (MT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported. The decline is a result of unfavorable weather conditions in Northern Costa Rica associated with an El Niño weather system. Two companies, TicoFrut and Del Oro, control …

orange

Brazil’s Orange Forecast Declines

Daniel CooperBrazil, Crop Forecast

The updated forecast for the 2023–24 orange crop in Brazil’s citrus belt is 307.22 million boxes of 40.8 kilograms each. That’s a reduction of 2.12 million boxes, or 0.7%, from the September forecast of 309.34 million boxes. The update was issued Dec. 11 by Fundecitrus in cooperation with its partners. The forecast, by varieties, is: IMPACTS ON FRUIT SIZE In …

citrus forecast

Improvements to Florida Citrus Forecast

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, Florida

In the Dec. 8 citrus forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS), Florida’s grapefruit and tangerine/tangelo production estimates increased. The all-grapefruit forecast for Florida leaped 26% compared to the season’s initial forecast in October. The state’s tangerine and tangelo forecast climbed 10%. All other variety forecasts in the citrus-producing states — Arizona, California, Florida …

Northern Hemisphere Citrus Production to Rise

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

The World Citrus Organisation (WCO) on Nov. 15 projected that Northern Hemisphere citrus production will hit 28.98 metric tons in 2023. That’s up 12.21% compared to the prior year and 1.48% higher than the four-year average. It also exceeds the WCO’s forecast of 24.35 million tons for the Southern Hemisphere. Oranges are forecast to account for 50% of Northern Hemisphere …

Positive Perspectives on the Florida Citrus Season

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, Florida Citrus Commission

By Steve Johnson The first U.S. Department of Agriculture crop forecast of the season was announced on Oct. 12. While the forecast arrived on a stormy day, the numbers were radiant rays of sunshine for our growers, and the Florida citrus industry as a whole. Every member of this industry knows there are still hurdles to clear, and there will …

Optimistic First Forecast for Florida Citrus

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast

The bad news is that severe weather warnings caused the annual citrus crop luncheon to be cancelled at Putnam Ranch in Zolfo Springs, Florida. The good news is that the Florida citrus crop forecast is up in all categories. Bill Curtis, agricultural statistics administrator with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, presented the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) …

California Navel Orange Forecast

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Crop Forecast

The initial 2023–24 California navel orange forecast is 74 million cartons. This is up 1% from the previous year, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) reported. The forecast is based on the results of the 2023–24 navel orange objective measurement survey, which was conducted from June 19 to Sept. 1, 2023. Estimated fruit set per tree, fruit diameter, …

Forecast for California Mandarins

Josh McGillCalifornia Corner, Crop Forecast, Mandarins

The 2023–24 California forecast for Tango and W. Murcott Afourer mandarins is 21 million 40-pound cartons, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) recently reported. This forecast is based on the results of the 2023–24 mandarin objective measurement survey, which was conducted from July 1 to Sept. 1, 2023. This is the first time the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s …

Brazilian

Season’s First Update to Brazil’s Orange Forecast

Josh McGillBrazil, Crop Forecast

The first update of the 2023–24 orange crop forecast for the São Paulo and West-Southwest Minas Gerais citrus belt confirmed the initial May forecast of 309.34 million boxes. Fundecitrus announced the update on Sept. 11. The forecast for Hamlin, Westin and Rubi varieties was increased 3.5% to 58.09 million boxes. Other early-season varieties climbed 1.6% to 18.51 million boxes. The …

Argentine

Why Argentine Orange and Tangerine Production Is Down

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

Argentine fresh orange and tangerine production will decline in 2022–23 compared to the prior season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) forecast recently. Fresh orange production is forecast at 623,000 metric tons (MT), down from 830,000 MT the prior season. Fresh tangerine production is projected to decrease to 285,000 MT, down from 380,000 MT the prior …

Reasons for Less Argentine Lemon Production

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International, lemons

Fresh lemon production in Argentina in 2022–23 is forecast to decline to 1.65 million metric tons (MMT), down from 2.1 MMT the prior year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported recently. The decline is due to the impact of rising costs, which have prompted smaller producers to limit the maintenance needed on lemon-bearing trees and …

Worldwide Citrus Production Down in All Categories

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) recently estimated that world citrus production is down for oranges, mandarins, orange juice (OJ), grapefruit and lemons/limes. For all categories, production will be lower in 2022–23 than in the prior year. OJGlobal OJ production for 2022–23 is estimated 9% lower to 1.5 million metric tons (MMT). Production is down due …

Peru

Global Mandarin Production Declining

Josh McGillCrop Forecast, International, Mandarins

Global production of tangerines/mandarins for 2022–23 is estimated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) to be 36.9 million metric tons (MMT), down 900,000 metric tons (MT) from the prior year. China production, which accounts for almost 72% of global tangerine/mandarin production, is estimated to be down 2% to 26.5 MMT due to lower yields. European …