USDA Trims Orange Crop Forecast

WASHINGTON - Jan 12/06 - SNS -- Orange production in the United States is still expected to exceed last year, but the size of the crop is shrinking, with the USDA dropping it 2% from its December forecast to 9.22 million tons.

Florida's all orange forecast, at 158 million boxes (7.11 million tons), is down 2% from the previous forecast but up 6% from the 2004-05 crop. Early, midseason, and navel varieties are forecast at 80.0 million boxes (3.60 million tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but 1% above last season's final utilization.

The Florida Valencia forecast is reduced by 4 million boxes to 78.0 million boxes (3.51 million tons), down 5% from the previous forecast but up 11% from last season's final utilization. For both Valencia and early-midseason crops, projected fruit sizes will be smaller than any of the previous 10 years, and fruit drop will be above average.

The all orange forecast for California, at 54.0 million boxes (2.03 million tons), is down 2% from the October forecast and 11% lower than last season's final utilization. The navel orange forecast is unchanged from October, at 42.0 million boxes (1.58 million tons), but is 2% lower than last season.

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