Little Change in Citrus Crop Estimate

WASHINGTON - Feb 9/06 - SNS -- Other than a 6% reduction in the projected size of this year's tangerine harvest, the USDA did not change forecast production levels for citrus grown in that country from last month.

The U.S. range harvest remains at 9.22 million tons, while grapefruit production is forecast at 1.09 million tons, unchanged from the previous forecast but up 8% from last season's final utilization.

Florida's grapefruit production is forecast at 16.0 million boxes (680,000 tons), unchanged from the January 1 forecast but 25% above last year's hurricane-damaged crop.

The white grapefruit utilization forecast, at 4.00 million boxes (170,000 tons), is unchanged from January but 18% above last season's utilization. The colored seedless utilization forecast, at 12.0 million boxes (510,000 tons), is also unchanged from the January 1 forecast but 28% higher than the 2004-05 season's utilization.

The fruit size and drop measurements obtained in January, combined with number of bearing trees and fruit per tree, are the primary indicators used for the February forecast. Arizona, California, and Texas grapefruit forecasts are carried forward from January.

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