Keep Current With MRLs for Exports

Tacy CalliesExport, Tip of the Week

By Mark A. Ritenour The United States and other countries set maximum residue limits (MRLs) on fresh produce for various chemicals, including pesticides that might be used before or after harvest. These materials must be labeled for use on the crop of interest and used only according to label instructions. While it is unlikely for U.S. MRLs to be exceeded …

Peru’s Mandarin Exports on the Rise

Tacy CalliesExport, International

By Francisco Seva Rivadulla Peru’s mandarin growers are working to build on their export momentum and open new markets. “Negotiations are well advanced with India. The technical part is already finished, such as the phytosanitary registration; only the administrative part is missing,” said Sergio Del Castillo, general manager of the Citrus Producers Association of Peru (ProCitrus). “SENASA (Peru’s National Agrarian …

tariff

South Africa Citrus Exports to Break Record

Ernie NeffExport, International

The South Africa citrus industry will likely break all export season records with an estimated 158.7 million cartons in 2021, the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa (CGA) reported recently. If the estimate is reached, it would represent a third consecutive season of record export volumes, with 130 million cartons exported in 2019, followed by 146 million cartons in 2020. …

South African Citrus Exports to Set Record

Ernie NeffExport/Import

South African citrus exports, both globally and to the United States, are expected to reach record levels in 2020, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS). The expected record is based on the pace of exports up to August 2020, increased production, a spike in demand for health reasons and limited logistics disruptions …

Citrus Exports to China and Hong Kong Down Significantly

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, Export

Exports of citrus from the United States to China and Hong Kong are down significantly, according to a news release from California Citrus Mutual (CCM). The association has been monitoring exports to China and Hong Kong since the trade dispute started in the spring of 2018. The data is from reports filed by the International Trade Commission, a federal agency …

New Specialty Crop Assistance Announced

Tacy Calliesfinancial, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Feb. 13 it is providing $1 billion in funding for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program. The federal aid is for specialty crops and sugar. Those commodities were not covered through the previously announced Farmer Bridge Assistance program. Citrus is one of numerous ASCF-eligible specialty crops. See the full list of …

Chilean

Chilean Citrus Production Forecast

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

Chilean production of lemons, oranges and tangerines/mandarins are all forecast to increase in 2025–26 from the prior year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported. LEMONS Lemon production is forecast to increase 4.4% from the prior year to 237,000 metric tons (MT). The increase is driven by expanded planted area and the crop’s profitability. The area …

increase

Moroccan Citrus Production to Increase

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) recently projected that production of all citrus varieties in Morocco will increase in 2025–26 compared to the prior year. TANGERINES/MANDARINS Morocco’s tangerine and mandarin production is forecast to reach 1.15 million metric tons, up 4% from the previous season. The area planted in tangerines and mandarins is 59,115 hectares. Tangerine/mandarin …

Chinese

Chinese Mandarin and Grapefruit Forecast

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) recently projected 2025–26 production and trade volumes for Chinese tangerines/mandarins and pomelos/grapefruit. TANGERINES AND MANDARINS For 2025–26, China’s production of tangerines and mandarins is forecast at 27.1 million metric tons (MMT), a slight increase from 2024–25 largely due to favorable weather conditions. According to USDA FAS, China has 890,100 hectares …

Argentina

Argentina Orange and Tangerine Forecasts Issued

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

Fresh orange production in Argentina is forecast at 680,000 metric tons (MT) for 2025–26 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). That’s an 80,000 MT increase from the previous year. Argentine tangerine production is expected to reach 240,000 MT in 2025–26, based on favorable weather. That’s up from 180,000 MT the previous year. PLANTED AREA The …

Japanese citrus

Japanese Citrus Production and Trade Forecast

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has issued a forecast for all Japanese citrus varieties for 2025–26. ORANGES Fresh orange production in Japan remains small and continues a gradual long-term decline as growers reduce investment in minor citrus varieties and prioritize more profitable crops such as mandarins. Orange production is estimated to decrease 4.7% from 4,090 …

Mexican

Mexican Citrus Production and Trade Forecast

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has forecast Mexican citrus production and trade for the 2025–26 season. ORANGES Orange production is forecast to decrease 2.8% from the previous year to 4.7 million metric tons (MMT). Orange planted area is projected at 356,800 hectares, a 0.97% increase from the previous year. Mexico’s fresh orange exports are forecast …

Egyptian

Egyptian Orange Crop to Increase

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

Egyptian orange production in 2025–26 is forecast to increase by around 15% from the prior year to 4 million metric tons (MMT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported.  Oranges account for 80% of all citrus production in Egypt, which ranks among the world’s top 10 orange producers. PLANTED AREA The orange acreage in Egypt is …

South African

South African Orange and OJ Production Forecast

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) recently forecast production and trade for South African oranges and orange juice (OJ) in 2025–26. ORANGES South Africa’s 2025–26 orange production is forecast to increase by 1% from 2024–25, to 1,850 million metric tons (MMT). The orange planted area is projected to increase by 2% in 2025–26, reaching 46,000 hectares. Valencias …

Peruvian

Peruvian Mandarin Production

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International, Mandarins

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) projects Peruvian tangerine/mandarin production in 2025–26 at 570,000 metric tons (MT), the same as the prior year. VARIETIES Tangerine/mandarin varieties in Peru include: The market for exports is dominated by easy peelers and seedless varieties including Murcott, Tango, Primosole, Clementine, Minneola and Orri. Peru’s main harvest season runs from March …

China’s

China’s Orange and OJ Production to Increase

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has forecast China’s orange and orange juice (OJ) production and trade levels for the 2025–26 season. ORANGES China’s orange production is forecast at 7.68 million metric tons (MMT), up slightly from the prior season’s 7.62 MMT. Oranges are grown on 816,500 hectares. China is expected to import 161,000 MT of …

lemon production

The State of Lemon Production in Argentina

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International, lemons

Argentina’s lemon production for 2025–26 is projected to remain steady at 1.9 million metric tons (MMT) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). That projection is supported by mild weather conditions throughout the growing cycle. Lemon production in 2024–25 was 1.91 MMT. IMPROVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES Over the past decade, the Argentine lemon sector has benefited from …

Northern Hemisphere

Northern Hemisphere Citrus Forecast Released

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The World Citrus Organisation (WCO) has released its annual Northern Hemisphere citrus forecast for the 2025–26 season. The preliminary forecast is based on data from industry associations from the Mediterranean region and the United States. Citrus production for 2025–26 in the Northern Hemisphere is expected to decrease by 1.51% from the 2024–25 season, with a total of 27.397 million tons. …

heavy

Texas Citrus: Heavy Crop but Smaller Fruit

Daniel CooperTexas

Texas citrus is showing heavy crops, but limited summer irrigation has led to smaller fruit sizes so far, said Juan Anciso of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Anciso is an AgriLife Extension vegetable specialist and associate head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Weslaco. According to Anciso, quality continues to remain good to …

tariff

South Africa Applauds U.S. Tariff Exemption on Oranges

Daniel CooperInternational, Trade

The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) welcomed new U.S. tariff exemptions that include oranges. It stated that the new exemption is great news for the 2026 season, which starts around April. According to CGA, the exemption once again makes South African oranges competitive in the U.S. market, which holds opportunities for increased exports and local job creation. The …