Overall Increase in Citrus Production

WASHINGTON - May 10/13 - SNS -- Citrus production in the United States is up over last year, helped by rising grapefruit production, according to the latest crop estimates released by the USDA.

The United States all orange forecast for the 2012-2013 season is 8.60 million tons, unchanged from the previous forecast but down 4% from the 2011-2012 final utilization.

The 2012-2013 United States grapefruit crop is forecast at 1.16 million tons, up 5% from the previous forecast and up 1% from last season's final utilization. The route survey conducted April 30- May 1 in Florida indicated that 94% of the white grapefruit and 95% of the colored grapefruit rows were harvested. California and Texas grapefruit production forecasts were carried forward from April.

The United States tangerine and mandarin crop is forecast at 710,000 tons, down 1% from the previous forecast but up 10% from last season's final utilization. In Florida, the route survey conducted April 30-May 1 showed that 97% of the Honey tangerine rows had been harvested. Arizona and California tangerine forecasts were carried forward from April.

Florida's tangelo forecast is 1.00 million boxes (45,000 tons), unchanged from the April forecast but down 13% from last season's final utilization. Florida's route survey conducted April 30-May 1 showed 99% of the rows had been harvested.