Modest Hike in Citrus Output

WASHINGTON - May 9/08 - SNS -- Citrus fruit production in the United States is up slightly from the last month's USDA crop report on increases in grapefruit and tangerines,. while orange and tangelo output was left unchanged from the April forecast.

The forecast of the 2007-08 U.S. grapefruit crop is 1.55 million tons, up 5% from the April 1 forecast but 5% lower than the previous season. Florida's grapefruit production is forecast at 26.3 million boxes (1.12 million tons), up 7% from the April forecast but 3% below last season.

The all white grapefruit forecast is 9.00 million boxes (383,000 tons), an increase of 20% from April's forecast but 3% below last season's final utilization. Florida's colored grapefruit forecast, at 17.3 million boxes (735,000 tons), is up 2% from the April forecast but 3% below the 2006-07 final utilization. The row count survey indicated that 94% of the rows observed this month were harvested and the majority of grapefruit left to be harvested were in the Indian River production area. Grapefruit harvest is expected to be complete by mid-May. Arizona, California, and Texas forecasts are carried forward from April.

The U.S. tangerine crop is forecast at 458,000 tons, up 6% from the April forecast and 27% higher than the final utilization in 2006-07. Florida's tangerine crop is forecast at 5.30 million boxes (252,000 tons), an increase of 10% from April's forecast and 15% higher than the 2006-07 utilization of 4.60 million boxes. Harvest of early tangerines is final at 2.60 million boxes and the later maturing Honey tangerine forecast increased from 2.20 million boxes to 2.70 million boxes. For the first time on record, there are as many tangerines going for fresh as processed. This is primarily due to the small fruit sizes. Arizona and California forecasts are carried forward from April.

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