General Decline in Citrus Output

WASHINGTON - Jun 10/10 - SNS - Citrus fruit production is generally down from last year, though most crops have shown some improvement over the past month, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

The forecast of the 2009-2010 United States grapefruit crop is 1.22 million tons, up 1% from the May 1 forecast but down 6% from the 2008-2009 crop. Florida's grapefruit production is forecast at 20.2 million boxes (859,000 tons), up 2% from the May 1 forecast but 7% below last season.

The Florida all white grapefruit forecast is 6.00 million boxes (255,000 tons), up 3% from May 1 but down 9% from the previous year. The colored grapefruit forecast, at 14.2 million boxes (604,000 tons), is up 1% from the previous forecast but 6% below last season. As of June 1, approximately 97% of the white grapefruit crop and 99% of the colored grapefruit crop had been harvested. California and Texas grapefruit production forecasts are carried forward from the previous forecast.

The United States tangerine and mandarin crop is forecast at 572,000 tons, unchanged from the previous forecast but 29% above the 2008-2009 crop. The Florida tangerine forecast is 4.50 million boxes (214,000 tons), unchanged from the May 1 forecast but up 17% from the previous season. Harvest of Florida tangerines is complete. Arizona and California tangerine and mandarin production forecasts are carried forward from the previous forecast.

Florida's tangelo forecast is 900,000 boxes (41,000 tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but down 22% from last season's final utilization. If realized, this will be the smallest tangelo crop since 1962, when Florida experienced a damaging December freeze.

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