Improved Citrus Outlook for U.S.

WASHINGTON - Mar 11/08 - SNS -- Citrus fruit production in the United States will be higher than expected last month, with the USDA lifting both the forecast size of this season's orange and tangelo crops, while leaving forecast output levels for grapefruit and tangerines unchanged from last month.

Florida's tangelo forecast is 1.50 million boxes (68,000 tons), up 15% from the February 1 forecast and 20% above the 2006-07 final utilized production. Nearly 93% of the rows included in the monthly route survey have been harvested.

The U.S. tangerine crop is forecast at 434,000 tons, unchanged from the February 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 February's forecast but 4% higher than the 2006-07 utilization of 4.60 million boxes.

Harvest of Fallglo, an early tangerine, was completed and Sunburst, another early tangerine, was nearly completed. The current volume for the later maturing Honey tangerines was the smallest on record since 1996, excluding the hurricane seasons. Arizona and California tangerine production forecasts are carried forward from January.

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