U.S. Citrus Harvest Outlook Declines

WASHINGTON - Jan 12/15 - SNS -- Citrus fruit production in the United States will be lower than initially expected, according to the USDA's latest production forecast.

The United States all orange forecast for the 2014-2015 season is 6.72 million tons, down 3% from the previous forecast and down 1% from the 2013-2014 final utilization.

The 2014-2015 United States grapefruit crop is forecast at 1.04 million tons, down 1% from last season's final utilization, but up 1% from last month's forecast. In Florida, current fruit size of white and colored grapefruit is less than average and is expected to be close to the minimum at harvest. Also in Florida, the current droppage for both white and colored grapefruit is expected to be close to the maximum at harvest.

The forecast for the 2014-2015 United States lemon crop is 888,000 tons, up 7% from last season's final utilization. In California, lemon harvest was well underway with reported rain during December having a positive impact on the crop development.

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