U.S. Tangerine Crop Recovers in 2022–23

Tacy Callies Mandarins

Production of U.S. tangerines, mandarins, clementines and tangelos (which collectively make up the tangerine group) for the fresh market reached 971,000 tons in 2022–23, up 32% from the prior season. California grows 95% of the U.S. tangerine crop, with its production concentrated in the San Joaquin Valley. Shipment data indicates that 823 million pounds of tangerines were shipped during peak …

California Leads U.S. Grapefruit Production

Tacy Callies Grapefruit, Production

For the third season in a row, California led the nation in grapefruit production again in 2022–23. Over the past decade, the title of top grapefruit-producing state has alternated between Florida, California and Texas. But the Florida citrus industry continues to decline, and Texas grapefruit producers experienced a major setback in February 2021 with Winter Storm Uri. California produced 160,000 …

fresh

U.S. Fresh Oranges Up; OJ Down in 2022–23

Daniel Cooper Fresh, Orange Juice, Production

The fresh-market orange crop in the United States rose 2% in 2022–23 compared to the prior year, to 1.44 million tons, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service reported this fall. The increase was due to larger navel orange and early/midseason crops in California and Texas. FRESH FRUIT PRICES FALL With increased supply, grower prices for fresh oranges were …

Brazilian

Economist Provides Brazilian Citrus Update

Daniel Cooper Brazil, Economics, Florida Department of Citrus

Agriculture is the driving force in the Brazilian economy, and Brazil is a leading food supplier to the global market, economist Marisa Zansler told the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) at its last meeting. Zansler is director of economic and market research at the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). She visited Brazil in August and provided the FCC with an update …

MRL Compliance Crucial for Citrus Exporters

Josh McGill California Corner, Fresh, Regulation

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) are a constant concern for growers. MRL issues can create a variety of obstacles depending on which market citrus exports are destined for. While the industry generally complies well with MRLs, caution is crucial as they can be a significant hurdle. Jim Cranney, president of the California Citrus Quality Council, said certain markets can be more …

Texas Grapefruit Headed to Vietnam

Josh McGill Grapefruit, International, Trade

Early this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in cooperation with other government agencies, got Vietnam to open its market to U.S. grapefruit. Fresh citrus grower, harvester and packer Wonderful Citrus, which has worked with the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to grow its exports, saw a ripe new opportunity.  “Wonderful Citrus and our grower partners are excited for …

Australian Citrus Season Sees Improvement

Josh McGill International

There have been signs of improvement for the Australian citrus industry in the 2023 season compared to 2022. Among other things, Citrus Australia Chief Executive Officer Nathan Hancock said fruit quality has improved this season. The tail end of the 2023 harvest has been particularly strong from a quality perspective, according to Hancock. “While the earlier fruit this season struggled …

Egyptian Citrus Imports Would Be ‘Calamity’ for California Growers

Josh McGill International, Trade

Egyptian citrus could be on the way to the U.S. market after a request was made to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A pest risk assessment has been drafted by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Jim Cranney, president of the California Citrus Quality Council (CCQC), said the assessment is for fresh oranges and tangerines, which would …

Why Argentine Orange and Tangerine Production Is Down

Josh McGill Crop 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 McGill Crop 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 McGill Crop 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 …

South African Grapefruit Production Up

Josh McGill Crop Forecast, Grapefruit, International

South African grapefruit production is forecast at 420,000 metric tons (MT) for 2022–23 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). That’s up slightly from prior-year grapefruit production of 416,000 MT. ACREAGE AND VARIETIESSouth Africa’s planted grapefruit area has grown by 18% over the past seven years, mainly driven by a surge in global demand, especially in …

valencia orange

Freeze to Cut Orange Production in Turkey

Josh McGill Crop Forecast, freeze, International

Turkey is forecast to produce 1.32 million metric tons (MMT) of fresh oranges in 2022–23, down from 1.75 MMT in 2021–22. The decrease is due to freezing weather conditions during the orange-blossoming period in March 2022. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) issued the updated forecast. The yield decrease in 2022–23 was heaviest in the Washington …

South Africa Mandarin Production to Grow

Josh McGill Crop Forecast, International, Mandarins

Tangerine/mandarin production in South Africa is forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) to grow by 6% in 2022–23 to 680,000 metric tons (MT). There is a growing trend to establish new orchards under netting, which has improved water efficiency, yields and the overall quality of mandarins in South Africa. INCREASED PLANTINGSThe South African tangerine/mandarin …

Less EU Lemon and Grapefruit Production

Josh McGill Grapefruit, International, lemons

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported that European Union (EU) production of lemons and grapefruit will decline in 2022–23 compared to the prior season. LEMONEU lemon production is forecast at almost 1.5 million metric tons (MMT), down 9.5% from 2021–22 due to estimated lower production in Spain, despite a rebound expected in Italy. EU lemon …

Outlook for Brazil’s 2023–24 Orange Crop

Josh McGill Brazil, Crop Forecast

The total Brazilian orange crop for 2023–24 is forecast at 410.6 million 40.8-kilogram boxes, a decrease of 1.1% from last season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported recently. The commercial area of the state of São Paulo and the western part of Minas Gerais should produce 309 million boxes, a decrease of 1.55% from last …

European Union OJ Production to Fall

Josh McGill International, Orange Juice

European Union (EU) orange juice (OJ) production in 2022–23 is forecast at 64,421 metric tons (MT), down 20% from the previous season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported. The volume of oranges destined for processing depends on overall orange production as well as the quality and size of the fruit destined for the fresh markets …

Turkish Tangerines Rebound From Natural Disasters

Josh McGill Crop Forecast, International, Mandarins

Turkish production of mandarins/tangerines is forecast at 1.86 million metric tons (MMT) for 2022–23, up slightly from the previous season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported. Prior season (2021–22) mandarin production was 1.81 MMT. Mandarins were less impacted than other Turkish citrus by freezing temperatures during blossoming in March 2022, USDA FAS stated. Also, the …

South Africa Lemon/Lime Production to Shrink

Josh McGill Crop Forecast, International, lemons, Limes

Fresh lemon/lime production in South Africa is forecast to shrink by 13% to 653,000 metric tons (MT) in 2022–23, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported recently. In the prior season, the country produced a record 748,000 MT. The yield reduction this year is due to hailstorm damage in the Eastern Cape in November 2022. PLANTINGS …

Peruvian Mandarin/Tangerine Production to Dip

Josh McGill Crop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) recently forecast Peruvian mandarin/tangerine production in 2022–23 at 550,000 metric tons (MT), slightly lower than the previous year’s 570,000 MT. The decrease can be attributed to removal of low-yield trees, a delayed season, lower harvests of early-season varieties and a warmer than expected fall season. ACREAGEPeru’s mandarin/tangerine planted area is …