Changes to U.S. Orange Crop Forecast

Ernie Neff Crop Forecast

Florida’s orange crop forecast was reduced by 500,000 boxes to 55.5 million boxes in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) March 9 citrus crop forecast. This represents a 1% reduction from the February forecast. If the March projection is realized, it will be 18% lower than last season’s final production. Florida’s Valencia orange crop forecast was reduced by 1 million …

citrus forecast

Florida Representatives Concerned About EU Grapefruit Tariffs

Ernie Neff Grapefruit

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 …

Q&A With FDOC’s Shannon Shepp

Tacy Callies Florida Department of Citrus

Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), answers several questions regarding her agency’s work, including efforts to market orange juice (OJ) and other Florida citrus products. She fields additional questions of interest to the citrus industry, including about demand for citrus products, foreign OJ imports, and industry challenges and opportunities. The FDOC is governed by the …

usda

Grapefruit Production in EU to Stay Stable

Ernie Neff Grapefruit, International

European Union (EU) grapefruit production is forecast to remain stable in 2020-21 at 96,000 metric tons, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reported. EU area planted to the crop stands at about 3,300 hectares. Spain, the EU’s largest grapefruit producer, expects its production to remain flat at 73,000 metric tons. The leading producing areas in Spain include …

Citrus Greening Solutions: How Long Will It Take?

Tacy Callies Citrus Greening

It may not be the answer Florida citrus growers want to hear, but it is likely to be several years before a citrus greening remedy is put in place to combat the destructive disease. University of Florida professor Fred Gmitter shared his assessment on possible citrus greening solutions during a recent American Seed Trade Association webinar. “We learn a lot …

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European Lemon Production Trending Upward

Ernie Neff International

European Union (EU) lemon production in 2020-21 is forecast to increase by almost 11 percent from last season, to 1.64 million metric tons (MMT), according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). EU planted area for the citrus variety continues trending upward at around 78,000 hectares. Spain is the union’s largest lemon producer with a forecast of …

citrus

Orange Production to See Global Increase

Tacy Callies Crop Forecast

Global orange production for 2020–21 is forecast to rise 3.6 million metric tons from the previous year to 49.4 million metric tons. Favorable weather leading to larger crops in Brazil and Mexico will offset declines in Turkey and the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Consequently, consumption, processing fruit and fresh exports are also …

florida

Florida Citrus Forecast for February Sees Some Changes

Daniel Cooper Crop Forecast

The February Florida orange forecast released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 56 million boxes, up 2 million boxes from the January forecast. This represents a 4 percent increase from the January forecast. If realized, it will be 17 percent less than last season’s final production. ORANGESThe forecast change was for non-Valencia production, which now stands at 22 …

Uncle Matt’s Launches E-Commerce Site

Tacy Callies Industry News Release

Uncle Matt’s Organic® has made its juices and functional beverages accessible to more consumers with the launch of a new e-commerce site. Currently, shipping is available to most of the East Coast, with plans to expand nationwide. The online store brings organic orange juice, lemonade and functional beverage bundles directly to consumers’ doors in one to two days via FedEx. Because …

USDA to Purchase Citrus Products

Tacy Callies Citrus

Mike Sparks, Florida Citrus Mutual executive vice president/CEO, reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced another round of citrus purchases totaling almost $48 million. The breakdown includes $10 million worth of orange juice, $7.5 million worth of grapefruit juice, $25 million in fresh oranges and $5 million in fresh grapefruit. The USDA purchases will be for distribution to …

H-2A Wage Freeze Blocked

Tacy Callies Labor

A federal judge has blocked the H-2A wage freeze that the Department of Labor (DOL) announced in November. The DOL decision would have kept H-2A wages at 2020 rates through 2022. Last month, United Farm Workers (UFW) and the UFW Foundation filed a suit to block the DOL rule. U.S. District Judge Dale Drozd granted the injunction preventing DOL from …

China Tangerine and Mandarin Forecast

Ernie Neff China

China is forecast to produce 23.1 million metric tons of tangerines and mandarins in 2020-21, a slight increase from 2019-20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service reported recently. Looking further ahead, some industry insiders predict the overall growth rate of tangerine and mandarin production will slow in coming years. They expect local governments may become more conservative in …

States See Changes in U.S. Citrus Forecast

Ernie Neff Crop Forecast

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) dropped another 2 million boxes from the January forecast for Florida’s orange crop but added 200,000 boxes to the state’s grapefruit projection. ORANGESFlorida’s total orange crop is now forecast at 54 million boxes, down 4 percent from 56 million boxes in December. The orange reduction was in the non-Valencia …

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Changes Proposed for Citrus From Australia

Ernie Neff Export/Import

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently proposed to expand the production areas in Australia from which fresh fruit may be sent to the United States. It also proposed to revise the conditions under which citrus from Australia may be sent to the United States. Currently, APHIS allows the entry of fresh citrus fruit …

Texas Grapefruit Sweepstakes Launched

Ernie Neff Grapefruit

Texas-based grapefruit brand Winter Sweetz announced the launch of its Sweeter in Texas sweepstakes to celebrate the Texas red grapefruit season during the holidays. Consumers may enter the sweepstakes from Dec. 15 to Jan. 15. There will be weekly prizes and a grand prize winner. Every week, two winners will be selected at random to receive a free shipment of …

Florida Orange, Grapefruit Forecast Trimmed

Ernie Neff Forecast

The forecast for Florida orange and grapefruit production were each trimmed by approximately 2 percent on Dec. 10. Forecasts for all other citrus varieties in all citrus-producing states were unchanged from the initial October report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The Florida all-orange forecast is now for 56 million boxes, down from 57 million …

nominations

Four to Join Citrus Hall of Fame

Ernie Neff Awards

The Florida Citrus Hall of Fame will induct four new members in 2021. They are John L. Jackson of Sorrento, Florida; the late Lew J. Prosser of Plant City, Florida; Adam H. Putnam of Memphis, Tennessee; and Steven D. “Steve” Sorrells of Arcadia, Florida. They will be inducted during a luncheon tentatively scheduled for Nov. 5 at Florida Southern College …

John Gose: Serving Youth and Industry

Tacy Callies Citrus

Ray Royce readily acknowledges grower and nurseryman John Gose’s many contributions to the Florida citrus industry, including serving “on way too many advisory committees to list.” Gose has even been president of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association, where Royce is executive director. PROGRAM LEADERSHIPBut it’s not Gose’s work with growers that most impresses the association executive. “I always think …

Texas Mexfly Quarantine Established

Ernie Neff Pests

Effective Nov. 5, 2020, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) established a Mexican fruit fly quarantine in Lasara, Willacy County, Texas. The pest is commonly referred to as Mexfly. APHIS, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign …

Citrus Industry Wants Costa for House Ag Committee Chair

Len Wilcox California Corner, Industry News Release, Legislative

California Citrus Mutual (CCM), Florida Citrus Mutual and Texas Citrus Mutual have voiced their support that California Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) be appointed as the new chair of the House Agriculture Committee. A CCM press release stated that Costa understands the industry’s issues, such as pest and disease, trade, water and immigration. Notably, Costa was instrumental in securing federal funding …