Orange Harvest Jumps 29%

WASHINGTON - Oct 12/07 - SNS -- The U.S. all orange forecast for the 2007-08 season is 9.83 million tons, 29% higher than the 2006-07 final utilization of 7.59 million tons, according to the latest USDA crop production estimates.

Florida's all orange forecast, at 168 million boxes (7.56 million tons), is 30% higher than last season's final utilization of 129 million boxes and 14% above the 2005-06 final utilization. Early, midseason, and navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 81.0 million boxes (3.65 million tons), 23% above last season and 8% higher than 2005-06.

Florida's Valencia forecast, at 87.0 million boxes (3.92 million tons), is 37% higher than 2006-07 and 20% above 2005-06. Average fruit per tree (excluding Navels) is 52% higher than last season on early-midseason oranges and 59% higher on Valencias. Fruit sizes are considerably smaller on all orange varieties.

California's all orange production forecast for October 1 is 58.0 million boxes (2.18 million tons), up 29% from 2006-07 but 5% below the 2005-06 final utilization. Navel oranges are forecast at 43.0 million boxes (1.61 million tons), up 26% from last season but down 9% from the 2005-06 utilization. Fruit set per tree was heavy, but fruit size was smaller than average. Some varieties of Navel oranges were being picked.

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