Smaller U.S. Orange Crop

WASHINGTON - Oct 12/06 - SNS -- The initial U.S. all orange forecast for the 2006-07 season is 7.89 million tons, down 11% from last season's final utilization of 8.90 million tons, according to the USDA's crop production report.

Florida's all orange forecast, at 135 million boxes (6.08 million tons), is down 9% from the 2005-06 hurricane-reduced crop. This forecast is 44% lower than the final utilization for the 2003-04 season which was Florida's last non-hurricane-reduced crop.

Early, midseason, and navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 72.0 million boxes (3.24 million tons), 4% below last season's final utilization. Beginning with the current season, Temple oranges are included in this category.

Florida's Valencia forecast is 63.0 million boxes (2.84 million tons), down 14% from last season's final utilization. Average fruit per tree is down from last year for all orange varieties and is attributed to cold temperatures in mid-February which interrupted the bloom period, as well as lingering stress from last year's hurricane. This reduced fruit set is particularly evident in Valencia oranges, which at 428 fruit per tree is the lowest on record.

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