Tangerine Crop Reduced, Other Citrus Unchanged

WASHINGTON - Feb 10/04 - SNS -- Citrus fruit production in the United States saw some changes from the USDA's January crop production estimates, with tangerine output dropping, while production estimates for grapefruit, tangelos and temples were left unchanged.

The 2003-04 U.S. tangerine crop is forecast at 397,000 tons, down 9% from the January 1 forecast but up 7% from last season's final utilization of 371,000 tons. Florida's tangerine crop, at 5.90 million boxes (280,000 tons), is down 12% from last month but 7% above last season's utilization of 5.50 million boxes.

The reduction was made in the early maturing varieties. The late maturing Honey variety component of the forecast is unchanged.

Harvest of the early tangerine varieties slowed as fruit began to dry out and became unusable for fresh shipments. Honey tangerine harvest is underway. Average fruit size is larger than the 10-season average and droppage is expected to be slightly less than average. Arizona and California tangerine forecasts are carried forward from January.

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