Soft Citrus Climbs in South Africa

Ernie NeffInternational

Production of tangerines/mandarins in South Africa is expected to continue its aggressive growth and is estimated to increase by 8% to 500,000 metric tons in 2020-21. Tangerines/mandarins are referred to as soft citrus. High levels of new plantings in recent years contributed to the production increase, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service reported in June. The area planted …

Turkey Orange Production Is Down

Ernie NeffInternational

Orange production in Turkey is estimated to decrease 1.3 million metric tons for 2020-21, a drop of 23% from the prior season. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) blamed the decrease on excessive hot weather conditions during the bloom period in May 2020. High price increases continue for input costs such as electricity, fertilizer and chemicals. “Fertilizer …

EU Orange Production to Increase This Season

Ernie NeffInternational

European Union (EU) orange production is forecast at 6.5 million metric tons in 2020-21, a 5.2% increase over the previous season. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reported the EU forecast. Expected orange production by country is 3.4 million metric tons for Spain, 1.85 million metric tons for Italy, 915,000 metric tons for Greece, 315,000 metric tons …

Grapefruit Making Strides in South Africa

Ernie NeffGrapefruit, International

The production of grapefruit in South Africa is estimated to increase by 8% in 2020-21 from the prior year, to 373,000 metric tons, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) reported in June. The area planted to grapefruit is expected to increase by 5% to 8,700 hectares. The predominant variety planted in South Africa is the Star Ruby, …

tangerines/mandarins

Turkey Tangerine Forecast Climbs

Ernie NeffInternational

Tangerine production in Turkey is expected to climb 14% in 2020-21, to 1.6 million metric tons, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service reported. The fruit will have good harvest quality due to favorable timing of rains and temperatures. Production will exceed that of 2019-20 because of freezing conditions and heavy storms during the 2019-20 bloom period, but will …

new york times

EU Orange Juice Production Climbs

Ernie NeffInternational, Orange Juice

European Union (EU) orange juice (OJ) production is forecast at 89,228 metric tons in 2020-21, a rise of almost 25% compared to the prior year. The EU forecast for OJ production was reported in June by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. The forecast is in line with the expected growth in the volume of European oranges destined …

South Africa Orange Production to Increase

Ernie NeffInternational

Orange production in South Africa is expected to increase by 2%, to 1.65 million metric tons, in the 2020-21 marketing year. This production estimate was reported in June by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS). The area in South Africa planted with oranges is estimated to grow by 3%, to 46,000 hectares. Increases in the amount of …

Argentina Citrus Production Estimates

Ernie NeffInternational

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) in June reported changes in its 2020-21 estimates for citrus production in Argentina. The fresh lemon production estimate was increased 12% to 1.15 million metric tons. The fresh orange estimate was revised down by 30,000 metric tons, to 670,000 metric tons. The tangerine production estimate was unchanged at 360,000 metric tons. …

Morocco Developing New Citrus Varieties

Ernie NeffInternational

The National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) in Morocco is developing new early- and late-season harvest varieties to support a prolonged production season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reported. This will allow producers to supply markets for longer periods of time and help Morocco remain competitive in international markets.   In May, INRA launched a call …

EU Citrus Production on the Rise

Ernie NeffInternational

Citrus production in the European Union (EU) is expected to rise 10.4% in the 2020-21 season to 11.7 million metric tons, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The FAS June report attributed the production increase to favorable weather conditions and rebound production mainly in Spain and Italy following a significant drop in 2019-20. “EU citrus …

Improving Productivity in Australia

Ernie NeffProduction, Research

A new research and development program launched by Hort Innovation aims to arm growers in Australia with the tools they need to produce more fruit, including citrus, and nuts per hectare. Hort Innovation is a grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for the nation’s horticulture industry. ABOUT THE PROGRAMThe 5-year $28 million National Tree Crop Intensification in Horticulture Program will …

Citrus Australia Focuses on Biosecurity

Ernie NeffInternational

Citrus Australia recently applauded the federal government’s additional investment in national biosecurity and stated that it will seek an opportunity for additional dialogue on enhancing plant biosecurity. The government announced $400 million in funding to enhance biosecurity over a four-year period. According to Citrus Australia, citrus exports alone are worth $500 million to the national economy annually. A pest incursion …

sour

Mexican Lemon Sector Sets Sights on Asia

Tacy CalliesInternational, lemons, Mexico

By Francisco Seva Rivadulla The Mexican lemon sector is betting on the diversification of international markets and has its sights set on the Asian market. Oliver Huesmann, director of Fruit Consulting and expert in the Asian market, says lemons have possibilities in all Asian countries. “What is needed is a promotion of this Mexican product so that the consumer knows …

Consumption and Production Trends in Global Lemons/Limes

Ashley RobinsonCrop Forecast, International, lemons, Limes

Global lemon and lime production for 2020-21 is forecast down slightly to 8.3 million tons as lower production in Argentina and the United States more than offsets gains in the European Union and Mexico. Global consumption and exports are forecast up with less fruit being used for processing. These findings are from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. …

Citrus Showcase Speaker Predicts Trade War Ahead

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Trade

Geopolitcal expert Peter Zeihan was the keynote speaker for the recent California Citrus Mutual Showcase. The showcase was presented March 4 online. Zeihan said he believes North America will recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19 this year, but the rest of the world will not. That, along with other factors, leads him to predict a trade war is inevitable, …

Imports Threaten EU Citrus Industry

Tacy CalliesInternational

By Francisco Seva Rivadulla Citrus imports in the European Union (EU) are causing a large oversupply in the market. According to the Valencian Association of Farmers, the largest organization of agricultural producers in Spain, a new record of 2,198,146 tons of citrus were exported to the EU from January to October 2020. This represents an increase of 15.4% over the …

Record Grapefruit Production and Consumption

Ashley RobinsonCrop Forecast, Grapefruit, International

Global grapefruit production in 2020-21 is forecast up slightly to a record 6.9 million tons due to favorable weather and expanded area in China and Mexico, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). Additionally, global consumption is forecast to reach a new record with the higher supplies as exports grow to their highest level in three …

citrus forecast

Florida Representatives Concerned About EU Grapefruit Tariffs

Ernie NeffGrapefruit

Twenty-two members of the Florida congressional delegation, led by Reps. Darren Soto and Bill Posey, wrote a letter to Acting U.S. Trade Representative Maria Pagan expressing concerns over retaliatory tariffs placed by the European Union (EU) on U.S. agricultural products. The letter focused on the harm the EU tariffs could do to Florida grapefruit. Here’s the full text of the …

Tangerine and Mandarin Global Production to Increase

Ashley RobinsonCrop Forecast, International

Global tangerine and mandarin production for 2020-21 is forecast up slightly to 33.1 million tons with larger supplies in China, the European Union, Morocco and Turkey, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Consumption and exports are both up with the increase in supply. China production of tangerines and mandarins is forecast to rise slightly to a …

Global OJ Production to Exceed Consumption

Ashley RobinsonOrange Juice

Global orange juice (OJ) production for 2020-21 is forecast 17 percent higher to 1.8 million tons. Production in Brazil and Mexico more than offsets the drop in the United States. However, global production continues its general long-term decline, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Similarly, consumption is projected to continue its long-term decline, although exports are …