Season’s Final Florida Citrus Forecast Ends On Up Note

The 2011-2012 Florida all orange forecast released by the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board is raised to 146.5 million boxes (a slight bump up from last month). The total is comprised of 74.2 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, Navel, and Temple varieties) and 72.3 million boxes of Valencia oranges, up 300,000 boxes from last month. The forecast of all grapefruit production remains at 18.8 million boxes.

Of the total grapefruit forecast, 5.3 million boxes are white and 13.5 million boxes are the colored varieties. The all tangerine forecast remains at 4.3 million boxes. The total is comprised of the early varieties (Fallglo and Sunburst) at 2.35 million boxes and the later maturing Honey tangerines at 1.95 million boxes. The forecast of tangelo production is continued at 1.15 million boxes.

As reported by the Florida Department of Citrus, the FCOJ yield is: all oranges at 1.628480 gallons per box, the late portion at 1.745597 gallons per box, and the early-midseason component at 1.529715 gallons per box.

Drought conditions were nearly eliminated in all citrus areas by the end of June due to the significant rainfall provided by Tropical Storm Debby.

This is the final forecast for the 2011-2012 season. Read the full report here.

The first forecast of the 2012-2013 season will be released on Oct. 11, 2012.