Larger U.S. Orange Crop Seen

WASHINGTON - Jul 12/07 - SNS -- The U.S. all orange forecast for the 2006-07 season is 7.59 million tons, up 3% from the June 1 forecast but 16% below last season's final utilization of 9.00 million tons, according to the latest USDA crop production estimates.

Florida's all orange forecast, at 129 million boxes (5.80 million tons), is down 1% from last month and 13% lower than the final utilization from the 2005-06 season's crop. Early, midseason, and navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 65.6 million boxes (2.95 million tons), unchanged from the June forecast but down 13% from last season's final utilization. Harvest of early, midseason, and navel varieties is complete.

Florida's Valencia forecast is 63.3 million boxes (2.85 million tons), down 3% from the June forecast and down 13% from last season's final utilization. The row count survey conducted at the end of June showed slightly more than 1% of the Valencia rows remained to be harvested.

California's all orange forecast for July is 45.0 million boxes (1.69 million tons), up 22% from the April forecast but 26% below last season's final utilization. Navel oranges are forecast at 34.0 million boxes (1.28 million tons), up 26% from the April forecast but down 28% from the previous season's utilization. Navel harvest is virtually complete. Yields were higher than previously expected; however, a higher than normal percentage of the crop was unsuitable for the fresh market and was diverted to processing.

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