No Changes in Citrus Crop

WASHINGTON - Mar 8/01 - STAT -- The size of the season's citrus crop was left basically unchanged in the latest USDA crop production report.

In the case of oranges, output was left at 12.4 million tons, 6% below last season's final utilization. The grapefruit harvest was pegged at 2.6 million tons, tangeloes at 94,500 tons, tangerines at 379,000 tons, temples at 76,500 tons, and K-Early citrus fruit at 1,800 tons.

However, the quantity of juice produced is expected to be higher than thought in February as yields for most citrus fruits exceed initial expectations.

Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield projection is increased from 1.54 to 1.58 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix. The early and midseason portion is increased to 1.54 gallons per box from 1.51 last month.

The Valencia portion is also increased and is expected to yield 1.65 gallons per box. All of the projected increases in yield are dependent on processors and harvesters following similar patterns of the past several seasons.

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