Larger U.S. Citrus Harvest

WASHINGTON - Mar 9/16 - SNS -- Citrus fruit prodiuctuion will be higher than initially expected, according to the USDA.

The United States all orange forecast for the 2015-2016 season is 5.36 million tons, up 2% from the previous forecast but down 16% from the 2014-2015 final utilization.

The United States 2015-2016 grapefruit crop is forecast at 807,000 tons, up 1% from last month's forecast but down 7% from last season's final utilization. In Florida, expected production, at 10.7 million boxes, is up 2% from last month but down 17% from last year. California and Texas grapefruit production forecasts were carried forward from the previous forecast.

Florida's tangelo forecast is 400,000 boxes (18,000 tons), unchanged from last month but down 41% from last season's final utilization. The production is the lowest since the 1958-1959 season. The Row Count Survey conducted February 29 and March 1 showed 89% of the rows were harvested.

The United States tangerine and mandarin crop is forecast at 907,000 tons, down slightly from last month but up 8% last season's final utilization. If realized this will be the largest production ever recorded. The Florida forecast is down 7% from the previous month and down 38% from last year. The California tangerine and mandarin production forecast was carried forward from the previous forecast.

Utilized Production of Citrus Fruits by Crop - States and United States: 2014-2015 and
Forecasted March 1, 2016
[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        :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              :     2014-2015     :     2015-2016     :     2014-2015     :     2015-2016
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              :      ------- 1,000 boxes -------              ------- 1,000 tons ------
Oranges                       :
California, all ..............:       49,000              52,500              1,960               2,100
 Early, mid, and Navel 2/ 3/ .:       39,500              42,000              1,580               1,680
 Valencia ....................:        9,500              10,500                380                 420
                              :
Florida, all .................:       96,800              71,000              4,356               3,195
 Early, mid, and Navel 3/ ....:       47,400              36,000              2,133               1,620
 Valencia ....................:       49,400              35,000              2,223               1,575
                              :
Texas, all 2/ ................:        1,452               1,410                 62                  60
 Early, mid, and Navel 2/ 3/ .:        1,170               1,130                 50                  48
 Valencia 2/ .................:          282                 280                 12                  12
                              :
United States, all ...........:      147,252             124,910              6,378               5,355
 Early, mid, and Navel 3/ ....:       88,070              79,130              3,763               3,348
 Valencia ....................:       59,182              45,780              2,615               2,007
                              :
Grapefruit                    :
California 2/ ................:        3,800               3,700                152                 148
Florida, all .................:       12,900              10,700                548                 455
 Red .........................:        9,650               8,200                410                 349
 White .......................:        3,250               2,500                138                 106
Texas 2/ .....................:        4,250               5,100                170                 204
                              :
United States ................:       20,950              19,500                870                 807
                              :
Tangerines and mandarins      :
Arizona 4/ 5/ ................:          170                (NA)                  7                (NA)
California 2/ 4/ .............:       18,200              21,000                728                 840
Florida ......................:        2,270               1,400                108                  67
                              :
United States ................:       20,640              22,400                843                 907
                              :
Lemons 2/                     :
Arizona ......................:        2,000               1,600                 80                  64
California ...................:       20,500              20,000                820                 800
                              :
United States ................:       22,500              21,600                900                 864
                              :
Tangelos                      :
Florida ......................:          680                 400                 31                  18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA) Not available.
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/   Estimates for current year carried forward from previous forecast.
3/   Navel and miscellaneous varieties in California. Early (including Navel) and midseason varieties in
     Florida and Texas. Small quantities of Temples in Florida.
4/   Includes tangelos and tangors.
5/   Estimates discontinued in 2015-2016.