USDA Lifts Orange Crop Forecast

WASHINGTON - Mar 11/08 - SNS -- The 2007-08 orange crop in the United States is better than expected in February, coming in 1% higher at a forecast 10.0 million tons, up 32% from the 7.59 million tons of utilizable production grown in 2006-07, according to the USDA.

Florida's all orange forecast, at 167 million boxes (7.52 million tons), is up 1% from the previous forecast and 29% higher than last season's final utilization of 129 million boxes. Early, midseason, and navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 82.0 million boxes (3.69 million tons), up 1% from February 1 and 25% above last season.

Florida's Valencia forecast, at 85.0 million boxes (3.83 million tons), is unchanged from the last forecast but 34% higher than 2006-07. Average fruit size for Valencia oranges remains small and is still expected to be smaller at harvest than any of the last eight non-hurricane seasons. Although the drop rate increased over the past month, it remained below average.

The California Valencia forecast is 16.0 million boxes (600,000 tons), up 7% from the previous forecast and 45% above 2006-07. This brings California's all orange forecast to 64.0 million boxes, up 2% from the January 1 forecast and 42% higher than last season. Harvest of Valencia oranges has begun and the crop looks good. The average fruit set per tree is higher than most years, while the fruit size is smaller than average.

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