Smaller Orange Harvest Forecast

WASHINGTON - Feb 10/09 - SNS -- This year's orange crop in the United States has slipped from the last USDA crop outlook, with production down 2% at a forecast 8.94 million tons for th 2008-09 season.

Florida's all orange forecast, at 158 million boxes (7.11 million tons), decreased 2% from the previous forecast and is down 7% from last season's final utilization. Early, midseason, and navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 83.0 million boxes (3.74 million tons), down 1% from the January forecast and last season.

Florida's Valencia forecast, at 75.0 million boxes (3.38 million tons), is down 4% from the previous forecast and is 13% less than the 2007-08 crop. Temperatures dropped below 28 degrees for four or more hours in Florida's citrus producing areas on the nights of January 21 and 22.

A freeze damage survey was conducted January 27-28, and showed little or no damage at that time. Additional assessments will be made in mid-February and late-February. Objective survey measurements taken during January showed a decrease in the fruit growth rate and an increase in the drop rate for the Valencia crop.

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