Florida Orange Forecast Holds Serve

By Growing Produce Staff|June 9, 2011

The latest Florida all orange forecast, at 140 million boxes (6.30 million tons), is unchanged from the May 1 forecast but 5% above last season’s final utilization. Early, midseason, and navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 70 million boxes, unchanged from May but 2% higher than last season.

The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 70 million boxes is unchanged from the previous forecast but up 8% from the 2009-2010 crop. The monthly row count survey indicated that 79% of the Valencia crop has been harvested.

USDA makes its initial forecast in October and then revises it monthly until the end of the season in July.

Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield forecast for the 2010-2011 season is 1.59 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, up 1% from the May 1 forecast and up 2% from last season’s final yield of 1.56 gallons per box. The early-midseason portion is final at 1.52 gallons per box, up 1% from last season’s yield of 1.51 gallons per box. The Valencia portion is projected at 1.68 gallons per box, 3% higher than last year’s final yield of 1.63 gallons per box. All projections of yield assume the processing relationships this season will be similar to those of the past several seasons.

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