Florida Citrus Forecast Stands Firm Through Season’s First Month

The latest 2014-2015 Florida all orange forecast released by the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board is 108 million boxes, unchanged from last month’s initial forecast. If the number holds, this forecast will be 3% more than last season’s production. The forecast consists of 52 million boxes of the non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, Navel, and Temple varieties) and 56 million boxes of the Valencia oranges.

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Non-Valencia Oranges

Current size is close to the minimum and projected to remain close to the minimum until harvest. Current droppage is above average, and is projected to be closer to the maximum at harvest.

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The Navel forecast is unchanged at 1.5 million boxes. If realized, this output will be the lowest in the series, which began in 1979-1980.

Valencia Oranges

Current fruit size is slightly above the minimum and is projected to be above the minimum at harvest. Current droppage is close to the maximum and projected to be close to the maximum at harvest.

All Grapefruit

The forecast of all grapefruit production remains at 15 million boxes. The white grapefruit forecast is unchanged at 4 million boxes. The colored grapefruit forecast also remained at 11 million boxes. Current fruit size of white grapefruit is slightly above the minimum and droppage is above average. Current fruit size of colored grapefruit is also slightly above the minimum and droppage is above average.

FCOJ Yield

The projection for frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) remains at 1.60 gallons per box of 42° Brix concentrate. Last season’s final yield for all oranges was 1.569080 gallons per box, per Florida Department of Citrus.

To see the entire report, click here.

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Avatar for Southern Tier Farmer Southern Tier Farmer says:

While I am not very knowledgeable about the citrus field I will let you know what I see from a consumer point of view. My wife has noticed the increase in the price of a bag of oranges up here in western NY. The oranges in the bag we purchased looked as if someone had given them a poor paint job to cover the yellow skin. Evidently whoever sprayed the crop to get them to color up did not do a very good job. Well maybe they did as it was enough coloring of unripe oranges in combination with the orange mesh bag to get people to buy the product thinking they were getting a nice ripe juicy orange. Unfortunately this was not the case and the next time my wife went to buy a bag she looked closer and found the other oranges to be of the same quality. Not good for your industry and I am sorry for not listing the brand.
On a side note, my local FFA chapter is conducting their annual citrus and apple sales. I usually buy a case of oranges as I can get apples anytime here. Unfortunately the price has become too high for a common orange. I would think the industry would provide a nice discounted price to the FFA to keep this important fund raiser going. Just my opinion.

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