Florida Citrus Season Limps To Finish Line

Slideshow: Consolidated Citrus

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The final 2012-2013 Florida all orange forecast released by USDA bottomed out at 133.4 million boxes, down 9% from last season. The total is comprised of 67.1 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, navel, and Temple varieties), up 100,000 boxes from last month, and 66.3 million boxes of Valencia oranges, down 700,000 boxes from last month. USDA’s initial October orange estimate for 2012-2013 was 154 million boxes.

The forecast of all Florida grapefruit production remained at 18.4 million boxes. Of the total grapefruit forecast, 5.3 million boxes are white and 13.1 million boxes are the colored varieties.

The Florida all tangerine forecast remained at 3.35 million boxes as well as the forecast for tangelo production, which remained at 1 million boxes.

The yield for from concentrate orange juice (FCOJ) decreased slightly to 1.59 gallons per 90-pound box.

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“This year’s crop really shows the devastating effects of HLB,” said Mike Sparks, executive VP/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “We had severe fruit drop and a lot of citrus from stressed trees with HLB ended up on the ground.
 
“If anything, this season provides stark evidence that growers, scientists, and the state and federal governments need to work together to beat this disease. The ongoing research looks positive and I’m optimistic it will ultimately find a solution to HLB but at this time there is no cure.”

Click here for the complete USDA report.

The first forecast of the 2013-2014 season is scheduled to be released on Oct. 11, 2013.

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