How This Year’s Florida Citrus Crop Is Faring Down the Stretch
April 13, 2021 Up to this point, the Florida citrus crop estimate for the 2020-2021 season has held relatively steady to the initial projection submitted last October. With the current campaign starting to wind down, the numbers are taking on a different complexion, especially given the latest forecast from USDA.
Forecasters have clipped the all-orange production figure by 7% over last month, down to 51.7 boxes total (22.7 million boxes of non-Valencia plus 29 million boxes of Valencia oranges). If this comes to fruition, it will be 23% less than last season’s revised final production, according to the report.
Above-average fruit drop, along with below-average fruit size, continue to be major factors affecting the estimates.
Florida Department of Citrus Executive Director Shannon Shepp weighed in on the latest citrus forecast with the following: “While we expect production to vary from season to season, [Friday’s] forecast provides an important reminder that we cannot take this industry for granted,” she says. “Citrus will always have a place in Florida, but we must work together to overcome the challenges growers are currently facing.”
The grapefruit forecast also took a hit in the April estimate. The total was scaled back another 300,000 boxes from last month down to 4.3 million boxes. Last season’s grapefruit harvest tallied at 4.85 million boxes.
The next Florida citrus crop estimate from USDA is scheduled to deploy on May 12. The final numbers will be revealed on July 12.
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