No Change in Grapefruit Numbers

WASHINGTON - Dec 11/06 - SNS -- Citrus fruit production in the United States will end up higher than expected in October, according to the latest USDA crop estimates.

The increase stems from a, larger orange crop, while forecast production of grapefruit, tangelos and tangerines is unchanged from October.

The 2006-07 U.S. grapefruit crop is expected to total 1.57 million tons, unchanged from the October 1 forecast but up 27% from last season's final utilization of 1.23 million tons.

Florida's grapefruit production is forecast at 26.0 million boxes (1.11 million tons), unchanged from the October forecast but 35% above last season's hurricane-reduced final utilization of 19.3 million boxes (820,000 tons). Excluding the last two hurricane-reduced crops, this is the lowest forecasted Florida grapefruit production since the 1949-50 season's 24.2 million boxes.

The all white grapefruit forecast is 9.00 million boxes (383,000 tons), unchanged from October but 38% above last season's final utilization. Growth and drop are both slightly less than the average of the last 10 non-hurricane-reduced crops. The overall quality of white grapefruit has been reported as very good, with nearly equal amounts marketed fresh as processed.

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