USDA Cuts 2% From Orange Estimate

WASHINGTON - Jul 12/05 - SNS -- The U.S. all orange July 1 forecast for the 2004-05 season is 9.00 million tons, down 2% from the June 1 forecast and 30% below last season's final utilization of 12.9 million tons, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Florida's all orange forecast, at 150 million boxes (6.73 million tons), is down 1% from the previous forecast and 38% below the previous season. The early and midseason forecast in Florida is 79.1 million boxes (3.56 million tons), virtually unchanged from last month but 37% below the previous season.

Harvest of the early and midseason varieties is complete, making this the smallest early-mid-navels crop since the 1989-90 season.

Florida's Valencia forecast is 70.5 million boxes (3.17 million tons), down 2% from the June forecast and 39% below last season's final utilization. The decrease in utilized production is due to near record high amounts of rainfall during June, which delayed and hampered harvest throughout the month and led to some loss of fruit.

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