General Decline in U.S. Citrus

WASHINGTON - Mar 9/07 - SNS -- Total citrus fruit output is now expected to be down this season, with smaller crops than last year now forecast for all major categories except grapefruit, according to the latest USDA crop production estimates.

The forecast of the 2006-07 U.S. grapefruit crop is 1.61 million tons, up 3% from the previous forecast and 31% higher than last season's final utilization of 1.23 million tons. Florida's grapefruit production is forecast at 28.0 million boxes (1.19 million tons), up 8% from the February forecast and 45% above last season's hurricane-reduced final utilization of 19.3 million boxes (820,000 tons).

The all white grapefruit forecast is 10.0 million boxes (425,000 tons), up 11% from February and 54% above last season's final utilization. The colored grapefruit forecast, at 18.0 million boxes (765,000 tons), is up 6% from last month and 41% above last season's utilization.

The row count survey conducted February 28 and March 1 showed 52% of all grapefruit rows harvested compared to 58% harvested to the same point last year. Overall, fruit quality has been reported as excellent this season.

California's grapefruit forecast, at 4.80 million boxes (161,000 tons), is down 20% from both the previous forecast and the previous season. Damage from the January freeze varied widely depending on variety and grove location. Harvest had resumed in the Central Valley with high packing house eliminations due to ice marking. Fruit in most of the desert areas was reported to have experienced less freeze damage than in other areas of the State.

The Texas grapefruit forecast is 6.50 million boxes (260,000 tons), unchanged from the January 1 forecast but up 25% from last season's utilized production. Arizona's grapefruit forecast is 100,000 boxes (3,000 tons), unchanged from both the previous forecast and last season's utilization.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here