Total Citrus Output Down

WASHINGTON - Jun 12/13 - SNS -- Citrus fruit production will be lower this year, lead by significant declines in the proipsective size of the orange and grapefruit crops, according to the USDA's latest crop report.

The United States all orange forecast for the 2012-2013 season is 8.42 million tons, down 2% from the previous forecast and down 6% from the 2011-2012 final utilization.

The 2012-2013 United States grapefruit crop is forecast at 1.17 million tons, up slightly from the previous forecast and up 1% from last season's final utilization. The route survey conducted June 3-4 in Florida indicated that 98% of the white grapefruit and 96% of the colored grapefruit rows were harvested. California and Texas grapefruit production forecasts were carried forward from May.

The United States tangerine and mandarin crop is forecast at 707,000 tons, down slightly from the previous forecast but up 9% from last season's final utilization. In Florida, the route survey conducted June 3-4 showed over 97% of the Honey tangerine rows had been harvested. Arizona and California tangerine forecasts were carried forward from May.

Florida's tangelo forecast is 1.00 million boxes (45,000 tons), unchanged from the May forecast but down 13% from last season's final utilization. Florida's route survey conducted June 3-4 showed that all of the rows had been harvested.