USDA Lowers Citrus Harvest

WASHINGTON - Dec 10/14 - SNS -- Citrus fruit production in the United States is slightly lower than first expected on reductions to this year's tangelo, tangerine and mandarin crop forecasts, according to the latest crop production estimates from the USDA.

The United States all orange forecast for the 2014-2015 season is 6.96 million tons, unchanged from the previous forecast but up 3% from the 2013 - 2014 final utilization.

The 2014-2015 United States grapefruit crop is forecast at 1.03 million tons, down 2% from last season's final utilization but unchanged from last month's forecast. In Florida, current fruit size of white grapefruit is slightly above the minimum and droppage is above average. Also in Florida, the current fruit size of colored grapefruit is less than average and the droppage is close to the maximum. California and Texas grapefruit production forecast are carried forward from November.

Florida's tangelo forecast is 800,000 boxes (36,000 tons), down 10% from last season's final utilization and down 12% from last month's forecast. Projected fruit size is below average and projected droppage is above average.

The United States tangerine and mandarin crop is forecast at 768,000 tons, up 6% from last season's final utilization but down 1% from the November forecast. In Florida, harvest of Fallglo varieties is complete for the season and harvest of Sunburst tangerines is underway. Projected Honey fruit size is near the minimum while the projected droppage is close to the maximum. Arizona and California tangerine and mandarins production forecasts are carried forward from November.