Flordia citrus production declines in latest forecast

Florida citrus production will, as a whole, decline according to the USDA and the National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS).

According to the NASS report on March 10, All-Orange production is down 1 percent. Non-valencia orange production has decreased 2 percent. All grapefruit production decreased by 6 percent and all tangerine production is down 7 percent.

Valencia orange production remained at basically the same levels,with NASS listing the fruit production as unchanged. Tangleo production was the only fruit that saw a discernible uptick in production, rising 13 percent.

The report breaks down production by boxes:

• All orange production in March reported 114.0 million boxes, down 1.0 million boxes from February, and 15 percent from last season.
• Non-Valencia oranges is forecast at 53.0 million boxes.
• The forecast for Valencia oranges remains at 61.0 million boxes. 
• All grapefruit forecast at 16.0 million boxes, a decrease of 1.0 million from the previous forecast
• All tangerines forecast at 3.25 million boxes, a decrease of 250,000 boxes.
• Tangelos forecast at 900,000 boxes, an increase of 100,000 boxes.

To read the full report, click here.