Florida Citrus Crop Count Sliced Again

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The updated 2012-2013 Florida all orange forecast released by USDA reveals a 4 million box decrease to 134 million boxes. The total includes 67 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, Navel, and Temple varieties) and 67million boxes of Valencia oranges, down from 71 million boxes in last month’s tally.

USDA’s initial orange estimate in October was 154 million boxes. During the 2011-2012 season, Florida produced 146.6 million boxes of oranges. If current conditions persist, this season’s crop will be less than utilization of the two previous seasons and only slightly more than the harvest of 2009-2010.

Predictions for all grapefruit production increased 100,000 boxes to 18.4 million boxes and is based on certified utilization as of June 1. The colored forecast increased 100,000 boxes while the white grapefruit forecast is unchanged. Of the total grapefruit forecast, 5.3 million boxes are white and 13.1 million boxes are the colored varieties. If this holds, the harvest will be the lowest since the 12.8 million boxes in the hurricane-affected 2004-2005 season.

Tangerine totals were adjusted downward to 3.35 million boxes, including an allocation of 300,000 boxes for non-certified use. The all tangerine production is 22% less than last season and the lowest since the 1992-1993 season. The forecast of tangelo production remains unchanged at 1 million boxes.

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The projection for frozen concentrated orange juice was lowered to 1.59 gallons per box.

USDA will makes its final 2012-2013 season revisions next month.

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