Smaller Citrus Harvest Mooted

WASHINGTON - Feb 8/08 - SNS -- Citrus production in the United States will be lower than last year, with this year's orange and grapefruit harvests looking smaller than first thought, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

The forecast of the 2007-08 U.S. grapefruit crop is 1.48 million tons, down 1% from the January 1 forecast and 6% lower than the previous season. Florida's grapefruit production is forecast at 24.5 million boxes (1.04 million tons), down 2% from the January forecast and 10% below last season.

The Florida all white grapefruit forecast is 7.50 million boxes (319,000 tons), down 6% from January's forecast and 19% below last season's final utilization. Average fruit size for white grapefruit is slightly smaller than initially projected and is the smallest on record since the 1990-91 season. Droppage for white grapefruit increased substantially to 18% and is the highest for any of the previous 10 non-hurricane seasons.

The Florida colored grapefruit forecast, at 17.0 million boxes (723,000 tons), is unchanged from the January forecast but 5% below the 2006-07 final utilization. Rainfall totals were above average in the upper portion of the citrus belt and below average in the lower central growing region. Arizona, California, and Texas grapefruit production forecasts are carried forward from the January forecast.

The U.S. tangerine crop is forecast at 434,000 tons, unchanged from the January forecast but 28% higher than the final utilization in 2006-07. Florida's tangerine crop is forecast at 4.80 million boxes (228,000 tons), unchanged from January's forecast but 4% higher than the 2006-07 utilization of 4.60 million boxes. Early tangerine harvest is nearly complete. The later maturing Honey tangerine droppage is at 34%, slightly below the previous ten season average. Arizona and California tangerine production estimates are carried forward from January.

Florida's tangelo forecast is 1.30 million boxes (59,000 tons), unchanged from the January 1 forecast but 4% above the 2006-07 final utilized production. Fresh shipments have been steady but processed fruit shipments have declined.

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