Orange Crop Shrinks

WASHINGTON - Apr 9/14 - SNS -- The United States expects to grow 7.20 million tons of oranges this season, down 2% from the previous forecast and down 13% from the 2012-2013 revised final utilization, according to the USDA.

The Florida all orange forecast, at 110 million boxes (4.95 million tons), is down 4% from the previous forecast and down 18% from last season's final utilization. Early, midseason, and Navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 53.0 million boxes (2.39 million tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but down 21% from last season.

The Row Count Survey conducted April 1-2, 2014 showed about 99% of the Early-Midseason rows had been harvested. The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 57.0 million boxes (2.57 million tons), is down 7% from the previous forecast and down 14% from last season's final utilization.

The California Valencia orange forecast is 12.0 million boxes (480,000 tons), unchanged from the previous forecast and last season's revised final utilization. The California Navel orange forecast is 42.0 million boxes (1.68 million tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but down 1% from last season's revised final utilization. The Texas all orange forecast, at 2.01 million boxes (85,000 tons), is up 10% from the previous forecast and up 12% from last season's final utilization.