2011-2012 Florida Citrus Crop Outlook Positive
October 12, 2011 USDA has released its initial citrus crop forecast for the 2011-2012 season, estimating Florida will produce 147 million boxes of oranges, a 5% increase from last season.
“This number is not a surprise. We’ve had good rain over the summer and a large bloom in the spring so this is pretty close to what we expected,” said Michael W. Sparks, executive VP/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “At this size, with our inventories, we would hope that the market will continue to put upward pressure on grower returns.”
To usher in the new season, Florida Citrus Mutual hosted a crop estimate breakfast at Ray-Bob Groves in Alturas. Governor Rick Scott, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam as well as Senator JD Alexander and Rep. Denise Grimsley were in attendance along with about 70 growers, industry representatives, and other elected officials.
The USDA predicts Florida will harvest 20.1 million boxes of grapefruit in 2011-2012, up slightly from the 19.75 million boxes produced last season.
The forecast for early and midseason varieties in Florida is projected at 74 million boxes and Valencias are projected to total 73 million boxes this season. For Florida specialty fruit, the
USDA predicts 1.1 million boxes of tangelos and 4.7 million boxes of tangerines. The yield for from concentrate orange juice (FCOJ) is expected to be 1.60 gallons per 90-pound box.
Click here for the complete USDA estimate. The USDA makes its initial forecast in October and then revises it monthly until the end of the season in July.
Source: Florida Citrus Mutual
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