Smaller U.S. Citrus Crop
WASHINGTON - Jan 10/14 - SNS -- Citrus fruit production in the United States continues to decline against ongoing, downward revisions to this year's average yields, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.
Production of all oranges in the United States is forecast at 7.39 million tons for 2013-14, down 5% from the previous forecast and down 11% from the 2012-2013 final utilization.
The 2013-2014 United States grapefruit crop is forecast at 1.08 million tons, down slightly from the December forecast and down 9% from last season's final utilization. In Florida, fruit size is near normal and droppage is above average for both white and colored grapefruit.
The forecast for the 2013-2014 United States lemon crop is 871,000 tons, down 4% from last season's final utilization. In California, lemons were harvested from all growing regions. Demand continues to be excellent in domestic and export markets. In Arizona, the quality of lemons is reportedly fair while demand remains outstanding.
Florida's tangelo forecast is 1.00 million boxes (45,000 tons), unchanged from the December forecast and last season's final utilization. The forecasted fruit per tree is up from last year. Fruit size is below normal while droppage is above average.
The United States tangerine and mandarin crop is forecast at 698,000 tons, down 3% from the December forecast but up 2% from last season's final utilization. In Florida, harvest of Fallglo varieties is complete for the season and harvest of Sunburst is expected to be complete this month. Projected Honey fruit size is below normal while the projected droppage rate is slightly above average.
Utilized Production of Citrus Fruits by Crop - States and United States: 2012-2013 and
Forecasted January 1, 2014
[The crop year begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with the completion of harvest the
following year]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Utilized production boxes 1/ : Utilized production ton equivalent
Crop and State :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: 2012-2013 : 2013-2014 : 2012-2013 : 2013-2014
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ------- 1,000 boxes ------- ------- 1,000 tons ------
Oranges :
Early, mid, and Navel 2/ :
California .................: 44,000 42,000 1,760 1,680
Florida ....................: 67,100 54,000 3,020 2,430
Texas ......................: 1,499 1,455 64 62
:
United States ..............: 112,599 97,455 4,844 4,172
:
Valencia :
California .................: 12,500 11,500 500 460
Florida ....................: 66,500 61,000 2,993 2,745
Texas ......................: 289 370 12 16
:
United States ..............: 79,289 72,870 3,505 3,221
:
All :
California .................: 56,500 53,500 2,260 2,140
Florida ....................: 133,600 115,000 6,013 5,175
Texas ......................: 1,788 1,825 76 78
:
United States ..............: 191,888 170,325 8,349 7,393
:
Grapefruit :
White :
Florida ....................: 5,250 4,500 223 191
:
Colored :
Florida ....................: 13,100 12,000 557 510
:
All :
California .................: 4,000 4,000 160 160
Florida ....................: 18,350 16,500 780 701
Texas ......................: 6,100 5,370 244 215
:
United States ..............: 28,450 25,870 1,184 1,076
:
Tangerines and mandarins :
Arizona 3/ ...................: 200 200 8 8
California 3/ ................: 13,000 13,200 520 528
Florida ......................: 3,280 3,400 156 162
:
United States ................: 16,480 16,800 684 698
:
Lemons :
Arizona ......................: 1,800 1,785 72 71
California ...................: 21,000 20,000 840 800
:
United States ................: 22,800 21,785 912 871
:
Tangelos :
Florida ......................: 1,000 1,000 45 45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Net pounds per box: oranges in California-80, Florida-90, Texas-85; grapefruit in California-80,
Florida-85, Texas-80; tangerines and mandarins in Arizona and California-80, Florida-95; lemons-80;
tangelos-90.
2/ Navel and miscellaneous varieties in California. Early (including Navel) and midseason varieties in Florida
and Texas. Small quantities of tangerines in Texas and Temples in Florida.
3/ Includes tangelos and tangors.
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