Sizable Tumble Tallied In Latest Florida Citrus Crop Forecast
June 11, 2014 
Photo by Frank Giles
The latest USDA monthly forecast of the 2013-2014 Florida orange crop decreased 6 million boxes to 104.3 million boxes.
Early-mid varieties accounted for 53.3 million boxes while Valencias dropped 6 million boxes to 51 million boxes.
“This decrease is about what we expected with the continuing effects of HLB, or citrus greening so we are not surprised,” said Michael W. Sparks, executive VP/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual and the 2014 Florida Grower Citrus Achievement Award winner. “The flip side is without the resiliency and superior production methods of the Florida citrus grower it could have been worse. The crop is still very high quality.”
USDA’s estimate of the 2013-2014 Florida grapefruit crop stayed at 15.6 million boxes. Specialty fruit held steady at 3.83 million boxes. The yield for frozen concentrate orange juice (FCOJ) decreased to 1.57 gallons per 90-pound box.
The 2013-2014 citrus season’s estimates will conclude with next month’s report.
Click here for the complete USDA estimate.
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