General Drop in Citrus Output

WASHINGTON - Oct 28/08 - SNS -- Citrus fruit production in the United States is experiencing a down year, led lower by smaller orange and grapefruit crops, according to the USDA's revised crop production and seeded area estimates.

The initial forecast of the 2008-09 U.S. grapefruit crop is 1.38 million tons, 12% lower than 2007-08 and down 15% from the 2006-07 final utilization. Florida's grapefruit production is forecast at 23.0 million boxes (978 million tons), 14% below last season and down 15% from 2006-07.

The white grapefruit forecast is 7.00 million boxes (298,000 tons), down 22% from 2007-08 and 25% lower than the 2006-07 final utilization. The colored grapefruit forecast, at 16.0 million boxes (680,000 tons), is 9% lower than last season and down 11% from the 2006-07 utilization. If realized, this will be the lowest Florida grapefruit crop since the 1944-45 season, other than the hurricane-reduced 2004-05 and 2005-06 crops.

Tree numbers of both white and colored varieties have been declining over the past decade. Excluding the recent hurricane- affected seasons, average fruit per tree of white grapefruit is close to the 40-year minimum of the 2002-03 season. Average fruit per tree of colored grapefruit is below seven of the last eight seasons.

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